I 


c/o'iadu 


LIBRARY 

University   of 

IRVINE^ 


MY    LADY'S    SLIPPER 


pper. 


MY     LADY'S 
SLIPPER 


BY 


CYRUS  TOWNSEND  BRADY 


PICTURES 

BY 
CHARLOTTE  WEBER  DITZLER 


NEW  YORK 
DODD,  MEAD  &  COMPANY 

MCMV 


PS 

|I 

155 


COPYRIGHT,  1905 
BY  DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY 


Published  October,   1905 


To 


JOSEPHINE,  PATTI  AND  JEANNETTE 

THREE    OF   THE    CHARMINGEST   LADIES 
THAT    EVER    WORE    SLIPPERS 


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PICTURES 


THE  SLIPPER 
Frontispiece 


THE  SLIPPER  is  SOUGHT 
Facing  page  40 


THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 
Facing  page  186 

THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 
Facing  page  226 


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PREFACE 


I  MUST  admit  that  I  really 
can  see  no  absolute  need  for 
so  formidable  and  serious  a 
thing  as  a  preface,  for  a  book 
of  this  kind — a  trifle,  yet  by  no 
means  an  unconsidered  one,  1 
solemnly  aver.  Yet,  true  to 
my  habit,  I  cannot  let  it  go 
without  that  final  (and  com- 
placent !)  pat  on  the  back  with 
which  the  author  dismisses  his 
latest  creation  to  make  its  bow 
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PREFACE 

io  the  public— the  elusive,  the 
captious,  the  critical,  yet  the 
constantly  wooed  and  ever  be- 
loved public !  Now,  I  have 
nothing  to  say  about  this  ro- 
mance save  to  declare  that  al- 
though in  its  pages  a  king  and 
a  queen  are  very  much  at  home, 
to  say  nothing  of  Doctor  Frank- 
lin and  Commodore  Paul  Jones, 
it  is  nevertheless  not  an  histori- 
cal novel— there  is  no  history 
in  it  unless  it  be  another  version 
of  a  thing  that  has  happened 
since  the  beginning  of  time  and 
which  is  therefore  a  part  of  all 
history — the  love  story, 
viii 


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PREFACE 

It  only  remains,  therefore,  to 
assure  the  gentler  portion  of 
the  reading  class  farther,  that 
although  the  scene  is  laid  in 
France  a  century  and  a  quarter 
since,  there  is  no  fighting  in  the 
book.  Not  one  of  the  charac- 
ters even  draws  a  sword.  In 
the  spirit  of  Nick  Bottom,  the 
immortal  weaver,  in  fear  lest 
I  should  "fright  the  ladies,"  I 
have  made  the  characters  in  the 
play  "  roar  you  as  gently  as  any 
sucking  dove  ...  as  'twere 
any  nightingale ! " 

With  this  I  introduce  my 
cheerful  novelette  to  you. 
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PREFACE 

And  may  you  have  as  much 
fun  out  of  the  love  affairs  of 
the  modest  Master  Francis 
Burnham  and  the  brave  and 
beautiful  Comtesse  de  Villars, 
as  1  have  had. 

CYRUS  TOWNSEND  BRADY 

TOLEDO,  OHIO,  SEPTEMBER,  1905. 


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CHAPTER  I 


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THE   SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

WHAT  had  happened 
to   me   last   night? 
1  was   not   certain 
as  to  details,  but  I 
recalled  the  main  facts  with 
singular   distinctness.      I   had 
lost  every  coin  that  I  possessed. 
A  hasty  search  of  my  pockets 
in  the  morning  disclosed  the 
absence  even  of  that  one  Louis 
from  which,  on  account  of  its 
markings,  I  had  resolved  never 
to  part,  save  in  the  gravest 

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emergency.  I  was  stripped 
bare,  "down  to  a  gantlin',''  as 
old  Bucknall  would  have  said. 
That  much  was  obvious.  1  had 
possessed  no  jewels  save  the 
ring  1  had  filched  when  1  took 
the  Frenchman's  purse.  That, 
too,  was  gone.  I  suppose 
I  played  it  away  with  the 
rest. 

I  still  had  my  sword.  It  was 
a  serviceable  blade,  which  I 
had  purchased  with  the  French- 
man's money  so  soon  as  I  ar- 
rived in  Paris.  A  gentleman 
and  his  sword,  backed  by  a 
stout  heart— well,  one  might 
be  in  worse  plight.  But  as  I 
thought. about  the  night  before 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

I  seemed  to  remember— and 
here  was  where  I  was  not  yet 
quite  clear — that  I  had  affixed 
my  name  to  certain  pieces  of 
paper,  I.  O.  U.'s!  To  what 
amount  I  was  obligated  by 
these  transactions  I  could  not 
tell  But  whether  it  was  for 
one  franc  or  a  thousand,  1  was 
unable  to  discharge  the  debt. 
My  creditors  must  give  me 
time  or— 

They  were  a  jolly  lot,  those 
Frenchmen,  and  I  had  held  up 
my  end  of  the  play  so  long 
as  the  gold  pieces  lasted. 
America  had  taken  no  disgrace 
from  my  ability  to  stand  in 
a  game  and  win  or  lose  like 

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a  gentleman.  True,  it  was 
generally  the  latter  that  fell  to 
my  play. 

Now  I  was  sick  of  it  all !  I 
hated  wine  and  women  and 
gaming.  I  wished,  as  never 
before,  that  I  was  on  the  deck 
of  a  stout  ship  again,  with  the 
new  flag,  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
fluttering  from  the  gaff-end  and 
the  breath  of  the  salt  wind  in 
my  face.  This  and  a  tidy  Eng- 
lishman of  equal  force  under 
our  lee.  Gods!  That  was  a 
man's  work  and  a  man's  place. 
This  drifting  around  from  one 
gambling  hell  to  another  in 
Paris,  with  a  crowd  of  royster- 
ers  —  and  worse  —  this  night 

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after  night  at  the  tables—  bah, 

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With  plenty  of  money,  no  oc- 
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ent chance  of  getting  one,  no 
friends,  and  a  reckless,  adven- 
turous disposition,  1  fell  in  with 
a  fast  set,  and  this  was  the 
outcome. 

1  could  not  find  her  either,  al- 
though I  swear  1  searched  high 
and  low  and  spent  not  a  little 
of  the  proceeds  of  my  highway 
robbery  in  trying  to  run  her 
down. 

Well,  there  was  no  use  in  go- 
ing over  all  this.  1  got  up  from 
the  couch  on  which  I  had 
thrown  myself  dressed  as  I 
was  when  I  came  in  last  night, 
staggered  over  to  my  dressing 
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fast !  I  loathed  the  idea.  Still, 
I  must  eat  to  live.  I  hadn't  a 
cent  with  which  to  bless  my- 
self. What  was  the  date  ?  It 
was  the  tenth — no,  the  eleventh 
— of  the  month.  Dr.  Franklin 
would  be  back  on  the  thir- 
teenth. Once  I  could  get 
speech  with  him  all  would  be 
well,  but  how  was  I  to  exist 
until  then  ? 

I  sat  down  by  the  window 
and  tried  to  think  of  some  de- 
vice. God  knows  my  situa- 
tion was  critical,  but  1  declare 
that  I  could  only  think  of  her ! 
Perhaps  my  inability  to  find 
her— for  she  had  vanished  as 
completely  as  if  the  earth  had 
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like  a  felled  bullock.  I  put  my 
hand  up  and  could  feel  a  little 
partially  healed  scar  along  my 
cheek  where  the  bullet  of  the 
one-eyed  scoundrel  cut  a  lock 
of  hair  and  grazed  me.  He  got 
a  crack  on  his  pistol  arm  which 
put  him  out  of  action.  I  could 
still  see  his  face,  convulsed 
with  pain  and  rage,  his  one  eye 
shooting  fire  at  me  as  he  re- 
treated before  me.  The  third 
rascal  was  a  coward,  for  he  fled 
immediately.  I  shall  never  for- 
get the  look  on  Mademoiselle's 
face  when  she  thanked  me  ! 
They  had  torn  her  mask  off 
when  they  had  dragged  her 
from  her  horse.  I  found  it  again 
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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

and  also  managed  to  catch  her 
horse. 

Although  I  was  dressed  like  a 
French  peasant  I  think  she 
realized  that  I  was  of  gentle 
blood.  She  was  surprised  at 
the  ease  with  which  I  mounted 
her  on  her  horse.  And  then 
when  I  went  back  and  picked 
up  the  slipper  which  she  had 
lost  in  the  fray  and  put  it  on 
her  charming  foot — 1  marvelled, 
as  I  recalled  it,  that  I  had  not 
kissed  it  then  before  I  covered 
it  with  the  slipper;  it  was  small 
enough  and  dainty  enough  for 
any  man's  lips,  that  little  foot, 
and  I  was  never  one  to  deny 
myself  any  simple  pleasure  that 
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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

caught  my  fancy  either ;  yet 
something  in  Mademoiselle's 
face  kept  me  back  and  I  was  as 
stolid  as  a  cobbler. 
What  was  she  doing  abroad 
on  the  high  road  at  that  hour, 
alone,  and  wearing  a  blue  satin 
slipper,  better  suited  to  a  draw- 
ing room  than  a  horse's  back  ? 
1  wondered  what  she  really 
thought  of  me  when  she  gave 
me  that  Louis — my  hand  went 
to  my  breast.  Yes,  it  still  hung 
there  !  I  hadn't  gambled  that 
away,  thank  God!  I  could  see 
her  flash  of  surprise  as  I 
promptly  returned  her  coin  for 
coin.  Yet  she  seemed  to  un- 
derstand. I  wonder  what  she 
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did  with  the  gold  piece  I  had 

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VI  me  and  left  me  standing  star- 

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madly  in  love  with  her  ! 

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^  She  was  the  first  lady  I  had 

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three  years  of  cruising, 

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understood  !  How  I  had 
searched  for  her !  Blue  eyes, 
dark  hair  ;  tall,  exquisitely 
moulded,  graceful  figure ;  a 
dainty  hand  to  match  that  foot 
I  had  slippered — this  vague  de- 
scription might  have  fitted  any 
woman  or  a  million,  and  she 
was  one  of  that  million.  It  was 
no  use.  I  should  never  see  her 
again,  and  if  I  saw  her  now, 
disgraced  as  I  was,  I  must 
avoid  her. 

So  absorbed  was  I  in  these 
miserable  musings  that  1  hadn't 
heeded  a  tap  at  the  door. 

"Ma  foil  "cried  a  rather  shrill 
metallic  voice  as  a  man  opened 
the  door  and  stepped  within. 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

"  My  dear  friend,  I  have  rapped 
several  times,  and  so  I  took  the 
liberty  ..." 

"  Oh,  come  in  by  all  means, 
Monsieur  du  Tremigon,"  I  re- 
plied, rising  and  welcoming  the 
newcomer,  although  with  no 
great  cordiality. 

He  was  the  hatefulest  of  all  the 
crowd  with  whom  I  had  cast 
my  lot  since  I  had  been  in  Paris, 
and  I  more  than  suspected  it 
was  to  him  that  I  had  passed 
those  little  pieces  of  paper 
which  began  more  and  more 
definitely  to  impress  themselves 
upon  my  recollection. 

"I  suppose,"  I  said,  "  that 
you  have  come  to  settle  our 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

accounts  of  last  night,  Mon- 
sieur ?" 

"  There  is  no  haste  about 
that,"  he  returned  politely 
enough,  "but  since  you  insist, 
as  well  now  as  any  other 
time." 

"  I  shall  be  honest  with  you, 
Marquis,"  I  returned  bluntly; 
"I'm  afraid  I  shall  have  to  ask 
your  indulgence  for  a  short 
time." 

He  drew  from  his  pocket  a 
package  of  papers  and  laid  them 
on  the  table.  I  took  them  up 
as  I  spoke,  and  although  I  am 
no  great  hand  at  figures,  1  saw 
that  the  total  was  appalling. 
My  heart  sank,  but  I  flatter  my 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

self  that  I  displayed  as  equable 
a  demeanor  as  the  man  oppo- 
site me.  It  has  always  been 
my  practice  to  put  a  bold  face 
on  everything. 

"Pray  give  yourself  no  un- 
easiness whatever  about  these 
little  matters, "  said  the  Marquis 
in  his  most  genial  manner — and 
the  more  gentle  and  kindly  he 
was,  strange  to  say,  the  more 
I  hated  him!  "  Or  rather,"  he 
continued,  interrupting  me  as  I 
began  to  speak,  "I  can  show 
you  a  way  to  discharge  them 
with  little  difficulty  to  yourself, 
and  that  immediately." 

'Show  me  that  way ! "  I  cried. 

I  will  avail  myself  of  it  at 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

once.  To  tell  you  the  truth,  I 
am  sick  of  the  life  I  have  led  in 
this  city." 

"I  thought,"  said  du  Tremi- 
gon,  smiling  meaningly,  "that 
you  were  scarcely  suited 
for " 

"What  do  you  mean?"  I 
burst  out,  glad  for  the  chance 
to  vent  my  indignation  upon 
some  one.  "  Didn't  I  bear  my- 
self like  a  gentleman  ?  " 

"Oh,  quite  so,  entirely  so. 
You  misapprehend  me,  my 
dear  Burnham,"  he  protested. 

"Well,   I  dare  say  you  are 

right,"  1  replied  carelessly,  too 

troubled  to  press  the  quarrel 

further.     "I  am  a  sailor.    The 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

sea  is  my  world.  I  am  at  home 
there  or  on  my  father's  planta- 
tion in  the  Carolinas.  But  this 
is  nothing  to  you.  The  point 
is,  I  am  in  your  debt." 

"This  ring,  Monsieur/'  said 
the  Marquis,  lifting  his  hand. 
"  Do  you  know  whose  it 
is?" 

"Yours,  I  suppose,  since  you 
won  it,"  1  replied.  "  It  was 
mine." 

"  Pardon  me,  it  was  originally 
mine." 

"What!" 

"Mine." 

"Then  you  are—   -?" 

'  The  gentleman  en  route  to 
London  of  whose  purse  you 

19 


THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

kindly  relieved  him  a  few 
weeks  ago." 

"Impossible !"  I  cried. 

"Impossible,  but  true,  Mon- 
sieur. I  recognized  you  when  I 
met  you  last  week  at  Varesi's" 
— the  name  of  a  popular  gam- 
bling resort — "I  wasn't  quite 
sure,  however.  At  least,  I  had 
no  proof  until  last  night.  This 
ring?  You  remember  taking 
it?" 

"  Oh,  perfectly,"  I  said,  coolly 
enough,  now  that  the  murder 
was  out. 

"And  this  Louis?"  He  handed 
me  that  curiously  marked  coin. 
"  A  pocket  piece  I  have  had  for 
I  should  know  it 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

among  a  thousand,"  he  added 
with  provoking  sangfroid. 

"You  have  established  your 
case,  Monsieur  du  Tre'mgon," 
I  answered  defiantly.  "You 
understand,  of  course,  that  I  am 
no  common  thief  or  highway- 
man. I  am  an  American  naval 
officer.  Serving  under  Cun- 
ningham on  a  privateer,  I  was 
captured,  thrown  into  prison, 
escaped.  Being  penniless  in 
the  enemy's  country,  I  de- 
termined to  take  the  purse  of 
the  first  traveller  who  came 
along.  I  was  told  that  you 
were  an  Englishman.  When  I 
discovered  you  were  French,  it 
was  too  late.  I  can  only  say 
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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

that  I  will  give  you  another 
I.  O.  U.  for  all  that  I  have  de- 
spoiled you  of,  and  so  soon 
as  1  can  communicate  with 
America  you  shall  have  the 
money  with  interest." 

At  this  long  speech  the  Mar- 
quis showed  his  white  teeth 
in  a  grimace — how  1  loathed 
him  !— waving  his  hands  as  he 
did  so. 

"As  to  that,  we  will  discuss 
it  presently.  Meanwhile,  what 
did  you  do  with  the  papers 
you  robbed  me  of  in  England?" 

"Tore  them  to  pieces  and 
scattered  them  in  the  first  river 
I  crossed." 

"  Sacrtbleu! "  cried  the  man, 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

touched  on  .the  quick.  "I 
could  stand  the  loss  of  the 
money,  but  the  loss  of  those 
papers  well-nigh  ruined  me  !  " 

"  How  so  ?  " 

"I  was  carrying  some  secret 
despatches  to  the  British  Gov- 
ernment, in  spite  of  the  war, 
and  your  blundering  made  me 
fail  in  my  mission." 

"  Blundering  !"  I  cried,  men- 
acingly. 

"Pray  be  calm,  Monsieur/' 
he  exclaimed  ;  "  the  word  may 
have  been  ill-advised,  but  you 
will  recognize  that  some  con- 
sideration is  due  me." 

He  looked  meaningly  at  the 
little  pile  of  notes.  1  followed 

23 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 


his  glance,  snatched  up  an- 
other piece  of  paper,  scribbled 
a  line  on  it,  and  added  it  to  the 
heap. 

"  That  covers  your  pecuniary 
loss,  including  the  ring,"  I 
said  sullenly;  "the  other  is 
past  my  mending." 

"Monsieur  Burnham,"  said 
the  Marquis,  adroitly  shifting 
the  ground  of  his  attack,  as  it 
were,  "are  you  aware  of  the 
exceedingly  difficult  position 
into  which  you  have  got  your- 
self?" 

"I  should  say  I  am  !  Being 
absolutely  without  funds,  I  am 
forced  to  ask  total  strangers  to 
accept  my  bare  word  that  I 

24 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

will  discharge  my  obligations 
so  soon  as  I  hear  from  America. 
This,  with  the  seas  swarming 
with  British  ships,  may  be 
a  matter  of  many  months." 
Meantime — 

"There  is  your  Ambassador. 
He  knows  you,  doubtless?" 
asked  the  Marquis  with  what  I 
thought  quite  natural  interest 
under  the  circumstances. 

"  Dr.  Franklin  doesn't  know 
me  from  Adam,"  I  replied. 
"He's  a  Philadelphia  Quaker, 
and  I  am  from  North  Carolina. 
He  has  never  seen  me,  nor  I 
him.  He  knows  my  father 
and  family,  though.  If  there 
were  any  of  our  officers  in  the 

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city,  if  Commodore  Jones  or 
Dick  Dale  had  only  returned 
from  the  Texel,  1  should  be 
all  right,  but  as  it  is,  I  am  com- 
pletely at  your  mercy." 

I  hated  to  say  that  word,  but 
there  was  no  help  for  it.  The 
Marquis  bowed  gracefully. 

"Your  remark  is  singularly 
accurate,  Monsieur.  At  my 
mercy  ! " 

He  opened  his  mouth  and 
tapped  his  white  teeth  with 
two  of  his  white  fingers.  I 
wanted  to  choke  him.  Why 
I  could  not  say,  for  he  had 
been  considerate,  and  I  owed 
him  a  lot  of  money.  I  had 
robbed  him  in  England,  and, 
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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

are  greatly  encumbered.  I  have 
a  passion  for  play.  I  do  not 
always  enjoy  the  fortune  I 

have  had  with  you,  and " 

he  laughed  as  he  spoke.  "  In 
short,  1  find  myself  in  very 
straitened  circumstances." 

"  I  suppose  you  want  your 
money  and  want  it  quick  ?  "  I 
burst  out.  "  I  can  understand 
that  easily  enough,  and  I 
promise  you " 

"There  you  go  again,  Mon- 
sieur, in  your  hasty  American 
way,"  he  interrupted,  checking 
me  with  another  gesture  of  his 
hands.  "  I  want  money,  it  is 
true.  I  was  born  wanting 
money,  I  have  lived  wanting 
29 


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money,  and  I  suppose  I  shall 
die  wanting  money." 

"You  won't  have  any  use  for 
it  after  that,"  I  thought,  but  all 
I  said  was  :  "  Proceed,  Mon- 
sieur." 

"You  are  doubtless  unaware, 
also,  that  Mademoiselle  Gab- 
rielle  de  Rivau,  Comtesse  de 
Villars  in  her  own  right,  grand- 
daughter of  the  Due  de  Rivau- 
Huet,  is  my  cousin  ?  "  he  ques- 
tioned. 

"  1  have  never  heard  of  the 
young  lady,  but  I  recognize 
the  honor  in  her  relationship 
to  you,"  I  answered  indiffer- 
ently, yet  with  meaning  ap- 
parent enough,  after  all. 

30 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

The  Marquis  was  not  devoid 
of  wit  or  understanding.  His 
eye  flashed  at  this  evidence  of 
the  slight  regard  in  which  I 
held  him,  but  he  proceeded 
deliberately  : 

"  Quite  so,  Monsieur.  Her 
grandfather  is  my  grandfather 
also.  She  is  one  of  the  richest 
women  in  France.  Our  re- 
spective parents  arranged  a 
marriage  between  us  when  we 
were  children.  The  carrying 
out  of  that  contract  depends 
entirely  on  three  people,  the 
young  lady,  the  Due  de  Rivau- 
Huet  and  myself.  It  was  stipu- 
lated that  no  constraint  was  to 
be  used,  and  that,  when  she 

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reached  her  twentieth  year, 
she  was  to  give  her  consent 
without  pressure,  freely  and 
willingly.  If  she  did  so,  and 
her  grandfather  interposed  no 
objection,  and  I  desired  it,  we 
were  to  be  married.  If  not "• 
he  shrugged  his  shoulders  once 
more — "I  lose." 

"  Lose  what?" 

"The  lady  and,  incidentally, 
her  fortune." 

I  confessed  to  a  very  languid 
interest  in  the  family  history  or 
the  love  affairs  of  the  Marquis 
and  the  lady,  but  for  politeness' 
sake  I  asked  him  another  ques- 
tion. 

"  Permit  me,  since  you  have 

32 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

broached  the  subject,  does  the 
lady  consent  or  refuse  ?  " 

"She  consents,  but  the  Due 
refuses." 

"Ah!" 

"  But  I  hope  that  his  refusal 
is  not  irrevocable." 

"  For  your  sake  I  trust  so,"  I 
replied.  "  Yet  I  fail  to  see 
how  this  concerns  me." 

"You  shall  learn  directly. 
Mademoiselle  de  Villars  is  one 
of  the  Queen's  maids  of  honor. 
She  usually  resides  at  the 
Court  at  Versailles.  For  this 
week,  however,  she  is  on  leave 
of  absence,  I  have  learned,  and 
is  in  residence  at  the  Hotel  de 
Rivau-Huet  in  Paris." 

33 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

"Yes?"  I  said  interroga- 
tively. I  was  beginning  to  feel 
some  curiosity  as  to  whither 
all  this  tended. 

"  As  I  said,  Monsieur,  the  Due 
seems  insensible  to  the  ad- 
vantage of  an  alliance  with 
me,  strange  to  say." 

No  wonder,  I  thought,  re- 
flecting that  the  Due  must 
be  a  man  of  nice  discern- 
ment ;  but  I  took  good  care 
not  to  voice  my  thoughts. 

"  I  have  decided  to  compel 
him  to  consent,"  went  on  the 
Marquis. 

"And  Mademoiselle  de  Vil- 
lars?"  I  questioned  suspi- 
ciously. 

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"She  also  wishes  it.  I  may 
say  "  —he  simpered  disgustedly 
— "she  is  more  anxious  than  I." 

"Monsieur  du  Tre'migon,"  I 
said  sternly,  repressing  with 
difficulty  an  inclination  to  kick 
him,  "do  you  assure  me  of 
the  truth  of  what  you  have 
said?" 

"Certainly." 

"  On  your  word  of  honor  as  a 
gentleman  ?  " 

"As  a  gentleman  and  as  a 
noble  of  France,  Monsieur." 

I  ought  to  have  known  he 
was  lying,  but  I  did  not,  and 
there  seemed  to  be  nothing  for 
me  to  do  but  accept  his  state- 
ment, besides  why  should  I 

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not  ?  and  what  was  the  reason 
for  my  questioning  him,  any- 
way ?  Yet  I  continued  my  in- 
terrogation— why  I  could  not 
explain. 

"  How  do  you  propose  to  get 
the  Due's  consent?"  I  asked. 

"There  is  a  way  to  apply 
pressure  to  him,  Monsieur, 
which  will  .  .  .let  us 
say  .  .  .  induce  his  consent." 

"You  wish  to  compromise 
her  in  her  grandfather's  eyes  ?  " 
I  said,  fathoming  his  meaning 
at  last. 

"Exactly." 

"  But  with  her  consent  .  .  .  ' 

"Your  intuition  does  you 
credit." 

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"That's  more  than  your  in- 
tention does  you,"  I  burst  out 
scornfully. 

te  1  can  afford  to  indulge  you 
in  these  little  pleasantries,  my 
friend,"  he  returned,  with  an 
evil  look,  "because  ..." 

"Why?"  1  cried. 

"  Because  1  intend  that  you 
shall  be  my  agent  in  the  little 
process." 

"You  are  reckoning  without 
your  host,  Monsieur,"  I  said 
quickly.  I  was  boiling  with 
disgust  and  resentment. 

"  But  not  without  my  servant, 
Monsieur,"  he  retorted  sharply. 
He  could  speak  briefly  and  to 
the  oointon  occasion  it  seemed. 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

"Servant?"  1  raged. 

"Yes.  Do  you  realize  that  I 
have  only  to  place  these  things" 
—lifting  the  coin  and  ring — 
"  in  the  hands  of  the  authorities 
and  lay  a  charge  against  you 
to  have  you  clapped  into 
prison  ?  " 

"  I  have  been  in  prison  before 
and  got  out,  Monsieur  du 
Tremigon,"  I  retorted  defiantly, 
in  spite  of  a  certain  un- 
easy feeling  which  I  would 
not  have  discovered  to  him 
for  worlds.  "I  can  stand  it 
again — for  the  sake  of  a 
woman." 

"You  will  doubtless  get  out 
of  the  prison  into  which  1  shall 

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put  you,  Monsieur,  but  it  will  be 
to  go  to  the  hangman,  or  may- 
hap to  the  headsman  if  you 
can  prove  your  gentle  blood." 

"What!" 

"You  forget  that  little  trans- 
action in  England.  You  are 
a  highway  robber !  I  have  evi- 
dence enough  to  convict  you 
beyond  doubt." 

"The  French  Government 
would  never  .  .  .  ' 

"The  French  Government  is 
angry  enough  over  the  loss  of 
those  papers,  and  the  punish- 
ment for  highway  robbery  is 
death,"  he  sneered. 

"My  God!"  I  cried. 

"Tis  useless   to   appeal   to 

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can  easily  pass  for  me,  espe- 
cially if  you  wear  a  familiar  suit 
of  my  clothes.  I  will  get  you 
into  the  grounds  of  the  Hotel 
deRivau-Huetbelow  Mademoi- 
selle's apartment.  The  build- 
ing is  vine-covered.  Being  a 
sailor,  you  can  easily  scale 
the  wall  and  enter  her  cham- 
ber. You  are  to  bring  me 
thence  some  article  of  per- 
sonal wearing  apparel — say 
a  slipper,  or  a  ring,  or " 

"Is  that  all?" 

"That's  all." 

"Why  don't  you  do  it  your- 
self?" I  asked  him. 

"It  is  hardly  necessary  to 
enter  upon  that,  Monsieur." 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

"If  lam  to  do  the  thing,"  I 
replied  hotly,  seeing  that  he 
did  not  wish  to  tell  me,  "I 
must  know  everything." 

"Well,  then,"  he  admitted 
reluctantly  enough,  "the  Due 
deRivau-Huet  has  threatened 
me  with  imprisonment  if  he 
catches  me  in  his  Hotel  again." 

"And  you  wish  me  to  take 
that  risk  ?  " 

The  Frenchman  shrugged  his 
shoulders. 

"1  am  to  do  this  at  the  peril 
of  my  life  ?  "  I  persisted  with 
deep  scorn  at  his  cowardice. 

"It  seems  to  me,"  said  the 
Marquis,  striving  to  sustain  my 
unconcealed  contempt  equably, 
42 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

"that  your  life  is  forfeit  if 
you  don't  do  it,  and ' 

"Enough!"  I  answered.  "I 
am  in  your  power.  When  I 
made  the  first  serious  mistake 
of  taking  you  for  a  gentle- 
man I  began  my  ruin.  AH 
the  rest  follows  logically. 
I'm  sorry  I  didn't  kill  you  in 
England.  I  suppose  there's 
no  help  for  it  now.  I  must 
do  the  work.  When  do  you 
wish  this  precious  adventure 
undertaken  ?" 

' '  To-night.  If  you  will  come 
to  my  rooms,  I  will  fit  you 
out,  give  you  the  plan  of  the 
hotel  and  make  all  other  ar- 
rangements." 

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"And  those  obligations  of 
mine  ?" 

"They  shall  be  returned  to 
you  when  you  place  what  you 
secure  from  the  room  in  my 
hands." 

"What  assurance  have  I  as 
to  that  ?  " 

"The  word  of  a  gentleman." 

"In  your  case  I  prefer  some- 
thing else." 

The  Marquis  flushed  angrily. 
Why  he  controlled  himself 
under  all  my  insults  I  do  not 
know,  unless  it  was  because 
he  was  so  desperately  anxious 
to  carry  out  his  plan  and  I  was 
his  only  instrument.  I  was  in 
his  power,  of  course,  but  I  was 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

you  please,  Monsieur,"  said  the 
Marquis,  malevolently;  "and 
now  we  will  go  to  my  apart- 
ments. Will  you  honor  me  ?  " 

He  rose  and  offered  me  his 
arm. 

"  I  have  to  do  your  dirty 
work,"  I  replied,  declining  it, 
"and  that  obliges  me  to  walk 
by  your  side,  1  suppose,  but  it 
doesn't  compel  me  to  take  your 
arm,  Monsieur." 

My  soul  revolted  against 
carrying  out  my  part  of  the 
plot,  even  though  by  so  doing 
I  was  in  a  certain  sense  oblig- 
ing a  lady.  True,  she  might 
be — and  if  his  words  were 
true,  she  was — in  love  with 

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du  Tremigon,  but  I  was  sure 
she  could  not  know  him  as  I 
knew  him.  Besides,  what  were 
the  love  affairs  of  the  Marquis 
and  his  cousin  to  me  ?  I  had 
no  personal  interest  in  either 
of  them.  My  only  desire  was 
to  extricate  myself  from  my 
sorry  predicament.  I  was  in 
the  Marquis'  power  completely. 
The  case  was  desperate,  life 
and  liberty  depended  upon  my 
action.  I  must  do  what  he 
said  unless  I  freed  myself  by 
killing  him  out  of  hand.  I  had 
thought  of  challenging  him,  of 
course,  but  I  knew  that  he 
would  decline  to  fight  me  and 
hand  me  over  to  the  police. 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS  SOUGHT 

There  was  no  help  for  it ;  in 
the  hands  of  a  knave  even  an 
honest  man  is  helpless.  All  I 
had  to  do  was  to  fetch  him  a 
slipper  or  some  personal  be- 
longing from  her  chamber. 
She  herself  desired  it ;  I  took 
some  comfort  in  that. 

Well,  the  long  and  short  of  it 
was  that  I  resolved  to  do  it. 
I  had  to !  And  yet  it  was  a 
mean,  knavish  thing  to  do,  and 
1  fully  realized  it.  I  loathed 
the  task,  but  there  was  no  help 
for  it. 


«a 

.     f,;         • 


?        * 


*T 


CHAPTER  II 


THE  SLIPPER  IS   FOUND 

FROM    some   servant   in 
the  Due  de  Rivau-Huet's 
hotel,  whom  he  had  sub- 
orned, du  Tre'migon  had 
learned  that  the  Comtesse  de 
Villars  was  to  be  from  home 
that  night.      He  arranged  to 
have  me  passed  through  the 
gate.    After  that  I  was  to  look 
out  for  myself.  The  Due's  hotel, 
which  was  surrounded  by  am- 
ple grounds,  was  just  outside 
the  city  walls.    The  Marquis 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

told  me  that,  dressed  in  his 
clothes  and  with  a  cloak  he 
was  accustomed  to  wear,  I 
should  very  well  pass  for  him, 
and  that  in  all  probability  no 
one  would  molest  me  unless  I 
fell  in  with  Espiau,  the  Due's 
body-servant,  or  some  of  the 
upper  officers  of  the  household. 
He  swore  that  the  domestics 
were  as  well  affected  toward 
him  as  the  lady,  and  as  all  the 
world  loves  a  lover,  they  would 
be  disposed  rather  to  encourage 
than  to  hinder. 
Du  Tre'migon,  with  singular 
parsimony,  I  thought,  had  des- 
ignated a  rather  shabby  suit  for 
my  use.  I  insisted  upon  seeing 
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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

his  wardrobe  and  deliberately 
selected  the  handsomest  gar- 
ments he  possessed,  choosing  a 
color  that  well  became  my  face 
and  figure.  He  protested,  but 
vainly,  for  I  said  that  I  must  be 
dressed  like  a  gentleman.  He 
complained  that  I  would  prob- 
ably tear  and  certainly  soil  his 
court  suit  in  climbing.  I  re- 
turned that  if  I  carried  out  his 
enterprise  and  won  him  a  rich 
wife  he  could  well  afford  to 
lose  a  suit,  whereas  if  I  were 
caught  and  shot  it  would  be 
some  consolation  to  me  to 
know  that  I  was  well  dressed 
for  dying,  and  there  the  matter 
terminated.  I  had  my  way,  as  I 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

usually  do.  He  could  make  me 
do  the  thing  he  wanted,  but  I 
would  stand  no  haggling  over 
costs  or  hectoring  as  to  details, 
I  let  him  know  pretty  quickly. 
I  also  took  a  handsome  sword 
from  the  rare  collection  of 
weapons  which  he  had  in  his 
apartments.  I  may  not  be 
much  of  a  card  player,  but  I 
pride  myself  that  1  know  a 
weapon,  and  I  chose  a  blade 
that  1  could  depend  upon.  I 
got  two  pistols  for  myself  and 
two  for  worthy  Master  Buck- 
nail.  Bucknall  was  an  old  ship- 
mate of  mine.  I  knew  I  could 
rely  upon  him.  We  had  fought 
side  by  side  on  several  cruises, 
52 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 


if  an  alarm  were  given,  that  the 
faithful  boatswain's  mate  would 
keep  a  way  of  escape  open  for 
me  as  long  as  he  could.  To 
him  I  gave  my  own  sword  and 
the  extra  brace  of  pistols. 
I  had  studied  a  plan  of  the 
chateau  which  du  Tre'migon 
gave  me  and  I  knew  the  lay  of 
the  land  and  the  position  of  the 
chambers  perfectly.  A  bath,  a 
rest  and  a  meal  completed  my 
preparations.  No,  I  forget  one 
thing.  I  knew  that  many  a 
door  that  will  not  open  to  iron 
and  steel  is  facile  to  a  golden 
key,  and  1  made  du  Tre'migon 
provide  me  with  a  rouleau  of 
Louis.  He  did  it  with  a  very 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

ill  grace,  it  must  be  admitted. 
In  the  first  place,  he  had  none 
too  many,  and,  in  the  second, 
I  suppose,  he  thought  he  had 
laid  out  enough  in  the  adven- 
ture. I  insisted,  however,  giv- 
ing him  in  lieu  thereof  another 
signed  paper  to  add  to  his 
already  rather  complete  col-| 
lection.  I  saw  the  humor  of  it, 
if  he  did  not.  These  matters 
and  the  visit  to  the  notary, 
where  I  had  things  made  se- 
cure from  my  point  of  view, 
filled  the  day. 

At  eight  o'clock,  being  thus 

well  equipped,  we  sallied  forth. 

Du  Tre'migon  had  furnished  us 

with  a  couple  of  horses.    We 

55 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

had  no  difficulty  passing  the 
gates— he  had  provided  us  with 
the  password— and  finding  the 
Due's  mansion.  The  Marquis 
did  not  accompany  us.  He  in- 
tended to  give  out  that  he  had 
paid  a  visit  to  the  Countess  in 
her  chamber,  and  in  proof  of 
it  was  to  exhibit  her  slipper. 
The  Countess  being  at  the 
masked  ball,  where  no  one 
could  recognize  her  for  hours, 
no  one  could  disprove  his  state- 
ment, especially  as  she,  so  he 
affirmed,  would  be  only  to  glad 
to  corroborate  it.  Of  course, 
if  anybody  saw  him  elsewhere 
his  plan  would  fail,  so  he  was  to 
lie  close  and  await  our  return. 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

When  we  came  near  the  place 
1  left  the  horses  in  care  of  an 
innkeeper  to  whom  du  Tre'mi- 
gon  had  recommended  me.  I 
gave  instructions  to  have  them 
ready  for  instant  service  at  any 
hour.  I  expected  that  we 
would  return  for  them  before 
midnight.  Then  Bucknall  and 
I  walked  boldly  down  the  road 
toward  the  gate  of  the  man- 
sion. Du  Tre'migon  had  told 
us  that  his  servant  was  one- 
eyed,  so  Bucknall  was  dis- 
guised by  a  patch  over  one  eye, 
which  gave  him  great  incon- 
venience, by  the  way,  and  at 
which,  sailor-like,  the  old  sea 
dog  growled  mightily. 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

I  drew  the  Marquis'  cloak  well 
up  around  my  neck,  pulled  my 
hat  down,  and  assumed  as  near 
as  I  could  his  mincing  gait  and 
manner.  In  the  dark  we  might 
well  pass  for  du  Tremigon  and 
his  servant.  The  porter  at  the 
gate  was  evidently  expecting 
us.  At  least,  he  made  no  diffi- 
culty about  passing  us  through. 
Then  we  were  left  to  shift  for 
ourselves. 

The  night  was  dark  and  chill. 
There  were  no  dogs  in  the  yard. 
The  Due  kept  his  hounds  in 
the  country.  No  one  disturbed 
us  as  we  made  our  way  cau- 
tiously along  the  wall  under 
the  trees  to  the  window  of  the 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

Countess'  apartment  in  the 
second  story.  A  few  lights 
showed  here  and  there  through 
the  different  openings  on  this 
side  of  the  house.  Among 
them  a  faint  illumination  came 
from  the  window  beneath 
which  we  stood.  I  looked  up 
at  it  with  interest.  It  seemed 
that  no  one  could  be  in  the 
room.  The  light  was  probably 
a  single  candle,  left  burning  in 
case  of  need.  This  agreed  with 
our  information. 
Making  sure  that  no  one  saw 
us,  we  crossed  the  grass  and 
stopped  under  the  window. 
The  house  was  an  old  one. 
There  were  buttresses  against 
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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

the  wall,  and  the  one  nearest 
the  Countess'  window  was  in 
a  dilapidated  condition.  A 
vine  ran  all  over  this  side  of  the 
building.  I  was  always  active 
and  I  had  not  dissipated  in 
Paris  long  enough  to  have  lost 
my  nerve.  I  glanced  upward. 
It  would  not  be  difficult.  If 
the  vine  held— and  its  stem 
was  as  thick  as  my  wrist — the 
ascent  would  be  easy.  Wrap- 
ping my  cloak  around  me  so 
as  to  protect  du  Tremigon's 
clothes  as  much  as  possible, 
and  with  a  word  of  caution  to 
Bucknall,  whom  I  saw  secreted 
comfortably  in  the  black  recess 
between  the  buttress  and  the 
60 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

wall,  I  quickly  made  my  way 
up.  So  long  as  I  had  the  as- 
sistance of  the  buttress  it  was 
nearly  as  easy  as  walking  up  a 
stair,  as  simple  as  climbing  the 
battens  on  the  side  of  a  ship. 
The  last  fathom  was  more  diffi- 
cult, but  I  managed  it  with  a 
few  scratches  and  with  a  mini- 
mum of  noise. 

I  had  no  foothold  to  give  me 
an  opportunity  to  peer  into  the 
room  or  see  what  was  before 
me.  Immediately  I  reached 
the  sill,  I  threw  my  leg  over  it 
and  stepped  quietly  within.  I 
stood  by  the  window  listening. 
Neither  from  outside  nor  inside 
was  there  any  sound.  By  the 
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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

favor  of  Fortune,  I  had  been 
unobserved  so  far. 
Satisfying  myself  on  thispoint, 
I  stepped  back  from  the  win- 
dow to  avoid  the  line  of  light, 
so  as  not  to  be  seen  by  any 
chance  passer-by  in  the  park, 
and  looked  about  me.  The 
room  appeared  to  be  a  woman's 
sitting-room.  There  was  an 
air  of  refinement,  of  grace  and 
culture  about  it  that  made  me 
sure.  There  were  books  on 
the  table,  pictures  on  the  walls, 
a  piece  of  some  sort  of  needle- 
work thrown  carelessly  on  a 
chair.  Several  doors  opened 
from  the  room.  According  to 
the  plan,  that  on  the  right 
62 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

should  be  the  Countess'  bou- 
doir, and  beyond  that  should 
lie  her  bedchamber.  I  stepped 
softly  across  to  this  door.  I 
listened.  There  was  no  one  in 
the  other  room  apparently.  I 
turned  the  handle  carefully  and 
entered. 

Just  beyond  me  was  the  door 
of  the  bedchamber.  Repeating 
my  performance,  I  walked  over 
to  it  and  listened  before  it  also. 
No  one  was  there.  I  opened 
the  door  and  peered  in.  Like 
the  others,  this  room  was 
lighted  by  a  single  candle.  Like 
the  others,  it  was  unoccupied. 

It  was  quite  evident  that  du 
Tre'migon's  informant  was  cor- 

63 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

rect.  The  Countess  was  out. 
Her  maid,  who  should  have 
been  on  guard,  had  taken  ad- 
vantage of  her  mistress'  ab- 
sence to  go  off  on  a  little  jaunt 
of  her  own,  I  surmised.  I 
closed  the  door  of  the  bed- 
chamber softly  and  began  a 
hasty  examination  of  the 
boudoir.  A  dress  lay  across  a 
chair.  A  magnificent  costume, 
it  seemed  to  me. 
A  pair  of  shoes — a  ravishing 
pair  of  tiny  shoes — stood  on 
the  floor  before  the  gown. 
These  might  do.  But  no,  a 
brief  examination  showed  me 
that  they  had  not  been  worn  ; 
they  were  entirely  new.  Du 
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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

Tremigon  had  insisted  upon 
something  personal  and  famil- 
iar. I  walked  over  to  the  dress- 
ing-table, which  was  covered 
with  a  mass  of  silver  and  porce- 
lain toiletcontrivances ;  mirrors, 
brushes,  jars,  powder  boxes, 
and  other  things  I  had  never 
seen  and  knew  not  the  use  of, 
being  unfamiliar  with  woman's 
gear,  having  neither  mother  nor 
sisters  of  my  own.  They  bore 
the  de  Villars  crest,  but  so  did 
a  number  of  things  in  du  Tre' 
migon's  own  Hotel.  None  of 
them  would  answer. 

I  remembered  the  room  con- 
tained a  closet.  Nerving  my- 
self further,  I  opened  the  near- 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  FOUND 

est  door.  On  the  floor,  con- 
fronting me,  lay  a  pair  of  small, 
worn,  blue  satin  slippers  with 
red  heels.  They  were  slightly 
shaped  to  the  feet  of  their  wearer 
from  long  usage.  There  were 
no  other  feet  in  the  world  that 
would  fit  those  slippers,  in 
all  probability.  They  would 
serve  admirably. 
I  stooped  and  picked  one  up. 
A  blue  satin  slipper,  with  a  red 
heel !  There  were  thousands  of 
such  slippers  in  Paris  doubtless, 
yet — It  could  not  be,  I  said  to 
myself,  as  I  thrilled  to  the  touch 
of  it. 


66 


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CHAPTER    III 


THE  SLIPPER    IS    RENOUNCED 

WITH  the  slipper  still 
in  my  hand,  I  turned 
to  find  myself  con- 
fronting a  woman  ! 
She  was  standing  at  the  door 
leading   to  the   antechamber. 
How  long  she  had  been  there 
I  knew  not.     Indeed,  after  the 
first  start  of  surprise,  I  had  room 
but  for  one  thought.     For,  with 
a  great  leap  of  my  heart,  I  had 
recognized  her.    The  woman 
was  she  whom  I  had  rescued 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS  RENOUNCED 

on  the  way  to  Paris,  with  whom 
I  had  fallen  madly  in  love ! 
For  whom  I  had  sought  high 
and  low.  Whom  I  had  prayed 
that  1  might  see  again. 

She  was  looking  at  me  com- 
posedly from  under  level 
brows.  I  observed  that  her 
hand  was  on  the  bell-cord. 

''Monsieur,"  she  said,  with 
no  appearance  of  alarm  or  anxi- 
ety— and  oh,  how  well  I  re- 
membered her  voice — "  if  you 
move,  or  make  a  sound,  I  pull 
the  bell.  My  servants  are 
within  a  moment's  call.  You 
will  be  overpowered  immedi- 
ately." 

"Mademoiselle,"  I  returned, 

68 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  RENOUNCED 

bowing  low  to  cover  my  dis- 
may and  disguising  my  natural 
voice  as  well  as  I  could,  thank- 
ing the  Lord  the  while  that  my 
French  was  perfect,  and  that  in 
the  dim  light  she  did  not  recog- 
nize me  apparently — how  could 
she  in  that  guise  and  in  such  a 
situation  ?  'M  am  at  your  ser- 
vice." 

"I  wish,"  she  continued 
gravely,  "to  talk  with  you. 
The  situation  amuses  me." 

She  spoke  as  she  might  in  the 
presence  of  some  newspectacle. 
Her  manner  assured  me  that 
her  interest  in  me  was  entirely 
impersonal.  She  was  tired  and 
bored.  This  was  a  novel  ex- 

69 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS   RENOUNCED 

perience  apparently  which  she 
wished  to  make  the  most  of. 
Reluctantly  I  admit  that  I  could 
think  of  nothing  adequate  to 
say — I  am  usually  rather  quick 
at  repartee,  and  have  been 
thought  to  possess  a  ready 
tongue,  but  this  situation  com- 
pletely nonplussed  me — so  I 
bowed  more  profoundly  than 
before. 

"  What  is  your  name  and 
what  are  you  doing  here  ? " 
she  continued. 

"  My  name,  Mademoiselle, 
matters  nothing."  In  my  agi- 
tation I  forgot  my  r61e  for  the 
moment,  and  spoke  in  my  nat- 
ural voice.  She  started,  then 
70 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  RENOUNCED 

lifted  the  candle  and  looked 
keenly  at  me. 

"Why!"  she  exclaimed,  in 
great  surprise,  "'tis my  knight 
of  the  highway,  the  gallant 
sailor !" 

I  do  not  know  whether  I  was 
glad  or  sorry  to  hear  her  say 
those  words.  At  first  I  thought 
to  deny  it,  but  somehow  it 
was  impossible. 

"  You  have  discovered  me, 
Mademoiselle,"  I  said  boldly, 
wondering  where  this  would 
lead  me." 

"Then  you  were  masquer- 
ading as  a  common  sailor. 
Now — 

She  paused  and  looked  me 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  RENOUNCED 

over  from  head  to  heel,  and  I 
have  been  told  since  that  I 
made  a  brave  appearance.  Du 
Tr£migon  had  displayed  excel- 
lent taste  in  clothing,  and  by 
my  forethought  and  determina- 
tion I  was  wearing  his  hand- 
somest suit.  I  stood  proudly 
erect,  putting  a  bold  face  on 
the  situation,  with  one  hand 
upon  my  sword,  my  hat  in  the 
other,  which  also  held  the 
slipper,  as  if  I  were  about  to  be 
presented  to  the  King,  although 
my  cheeks  burned  scarlet  under 
her  scrutiny. 

' '  Now, "  she  said  at  last,  ' '  you 
are  masquerading  as  a  gentle- 
man." 

72 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  RENOUNCED 

"  Pardon,  Mademoiselle,"  I  re- 
turned, li  I  am  a  gentleman  " — 
she  put  up  her  hand,  but  I 
would  not  be  denied — "mas- 
querading as  a  thief." 

"Is  it  because  you  have  stolen 
the  Marquis  du  Tremigon's 
clothes  ? — for  I  believe,  if  I  am 
not  mistaken,  they  are  his." 

"  Your  observation  does  you 
infinite  credit,  Mademoiselle." 

"I  thought  so.  Is  it  for  that 
reason  you  are  masquerading 
as  a  .  .  .  thief?" 

I  blessed  her  in  my  heart  for 
her  hesitation  over  that  word. 

"  Because  I  have  come  here 
without  regard  to  clothes  to— 
I  protested. 

73 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS   RENOUNCED 

"To  take  my  jewels  ?"  she 
interrupted. 

"Mademoiselle  1"  I  cried,  start- 
ing back,  the  blood  flaming 
in  my  face  again.  "You 
think " 

"  I  think  nothing,  Monsieur. 
I  discover  a  strange  man  in  my 
apartment  at  night.  He  says 
that  he  is  masquerading  as  a 
thief— the  word  is  your  own, 
sir.  What  else  am  I  to  infer  ?  " 

I  was  dumb  before  her  merci- 
less logic. 

"  Mademoiselle,"  1  began  des- 
perately, constrained  by  her 
silence  to  some  kind  of  a  reply, 
"  I  deeply  regret — " 

"So,  too,  do  I.  Monsieur," 
74 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS  RENOUNCED 

she  retorted  promptly.  "  I 
knew — at  least  I  thought  I 
knew,  on  that  day,  the  day 
you  did  me  such  brave  ser- 
vice— that  you  were  a  gentle- 
man, in  spite  of  what  you  wore, 
yet — well,  I  see  I  was  de- 
ceived." 

"  Don't  say  that !"  I  protested 
again. 

"  Why  not,  Monsieur  ?" 
"  Mademoiselle,  I  am  here  in 
defiance  of  every  rule  of  pro- 
priety, 1  will  admit.  You  may 
well  think  me  a  thief,"  I  began, 
with  passionate  haste,  a  useful 
idea  occurring  to  me  at  that 
instant,  "but  I  am  only  follow- 
ing your  example." 

75 


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THE  SLIPPER   IS  RENOUNCED 

"How,  sir?"  she  exclaimed. 

"You,  too,  are  not  guiltless 
of  robbery." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  she 
asked,  indignantly  drawing  her- 
self up. 

Jove !  how  magnificent  she 
looked  !  I  wanted  to  throw 
myself  at  her  feet  and  confess 
everything,  but  I  dared  not — 
then.  When  a  woman  gets 
you  in  a  tight  place,  make  love 
to  her— that  was  my  idea,  as  it 
had  ever  been  my  practice. 
You  can  imagine  how  congenial 
was  the  attempt  in  this  instance 
when  I  already  adored  this 
young  lady. 

You  have  stolen  my  heart, 
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Mademoiselle,"  I  continued 
with  growing  courage. 

"And  you  came  to  look  for 
it  in  my  jewel-case  ?"  she 
laughed  somewhat  contemptu- 
ously. 

"  I  have  come  for  yours  in 
exchange,"  said  I ;  although  I 
had  a  neat  opening  for  a  biting 
retort  to  her  question,  I  judged 
it  best  to  let  it  pass. 

"Monsieur !" 

"I  am  a  poor  sailor,  Made- 
moiselle, but  I  have  sought  you 
throughout  the  land.  I  babbled 
everywhere  as  I  ran  of  blue 
eyes,  dark  hair,  a  witching 
face.  I  found  you — nowhere  !" 

There  was  a  ring  of  truth  in 
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these  words — although  of 
course  it  did  not  explain  my 
presence  there — that  1  believe 
influenced  her. 

"  Tis  impossible,  Monsieur- 
she  began  at  last. 

"Look  into  the  glass,  Made- 
moiselle, and  see  how  believ- 
able it  is,"  I  broke  in. 

"  That  you  should  have  come 
here  on  such  an  errand  and— 

"  I  would  go  to  the  end  of 
the  world  if  I  might  find  you 
there,  Mademoiselle,"  I  boldly 
said,  taking  a  step  nearer  to 
her. 

" Monsieur !"  she  cried,  clutch- 
ing the  bell-rope  once  more. 
"  Pray  keep  your  distance." 
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"  I  am  content  merely  to  look 
at  you,"  I  said,  stopping  short 
instantly. 

"Monsieur,  on  your  word  of 
honor  as  a — "  She  paused. 

"  As  a  thief?"  I  questioned. 

"As  a  gentleman,"  she  said 
softly,  and  1  could  have  kissed 
her  feet  for  that.  "Did  you 
come  here  for  me  ?" 

"Mademoiselle,"  I  said,  "it 
is  a  long  story.  You  have 
honored  me  by  your  conversa- 
tion. You  found  something 
gentle  in  me  on  the  road  and 
in  spite  of  appearances — that 
are  so  grievously  against  me 
now— you  have  reposed  a  cer- 
tain degree  of  confidence  in  me. 
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Will  you  allow  me  to  tell  you 
briefly  who  and  what  I  am  ?" 

"  I  am  anxious  to  learn  it." 

"Will  you  not  be  seated? 
You  may  release  the  bell-rope, 
on  my  word,  without  danger. 
I  would  rather  die  than  harm 
you.  Indeed,  my  greatest  am- 
bition is  to  devote  my  life  to 
your  service." 

"  Fine  words,  Monsieur,  and 
such  as  I  have  often  heard  from 
other  cavaliers." 

"  1  doubt  it  not,  Mademoiselle. 
Such  beauty  of  person  and 
grace  of  mind  as  yours  cannot 
remain  unchallenged.  This 
shall  be  my  excuse." 

"No  more  of  this,  if  you 
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please,  but  of  yourself."  It 
was  ineffable  condescension, 
and  you  may  imagine  how  I 
appreciated  the  honor. 

"  My  name  is  Francis  Burn- 
ham.  My  family  on  the  distaff 
side  is  French-Huguenot.  The 
blood,  I  believe,  is  noble.  My 
great-grandfather  was  an  Eng- 
lish gentleman.  My  father  met 
my  mother  in  North  Carolina. 
The  acreage  my  father  owns  is 
equal  to  a  French  county." 
"You  are  an  American,  then  ?" 
"  I  have  that  honor.  I  am 
also  an  officer  in  the  American 
Navy.  My  country  is  ill  pro- 
vided with  warships.  Many 
naval  officers  have  been  forced 
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to  accept  positions  in  priva- 
teers. 1  was  a  lieutenant  in 
Captain  Gustavus  Cunning- 
ham's privateer  ship,  Revenge. 
We  were  captured  by  a  British 
frigate  and  taken  to  a  British 
prison-ship.  I  escaped  thence 
and  was  on  my  way  to  Paris, 
to  see  Dr.  Franklin,  when  1  had 
the  good  fortune  to  be  of  some 
slight  service  to  you.  That 
gold  piece  you  gave  me,  I  have 
it  here."  I  saw  her  hand  in- 
voluntarily move  to  her  breast 
and  my  heart  leaped  as  it  as- 
sured me  that  she  also  had  re- 
tained and  cherished  the  coin  I 
had  forced  upon  her.  "  I  have 
loved  you  ever  since  I  saw  you 
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that  day,  Mademoiselle.  I  have 
sought  you  everywhere  in  vain 
until  to-night." 

"That,  Monsieur,"  she  said 
quietly,  "does  not  yet  explain 
your  presence  here." 

I  was  dumb  again.  She 
was  a  rare  woman  indeed  and 
quite  able  to  stick  to  a  point. 

"How  did  you  discover  my 
abode  ?"  she  persisted.  I 
racked  my  brains,  but  I  could 
make  no  reply. 

"How  did  you  learn  my 
name  ?"  she  continued,  press- 
ing me  mercilessly. 

Unthinkingly,  1  answered  : 

"  I  do  not  know  your  name 
at  this  moment." 

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THE  SLIPPER  IS   RENOUNCED 

"I  am  Gabrielle  de  Rivau, 
Comtesse  de  Villars." 

"Great  Heavens!"  1  ex- 
claimed. 

Would  you  believe  it?  It 
had  not  occurred  to  me  for  a 
moment  that  this  was  she  !  I 
had  jumped  to  the  conclusion 
that  she  was  perhaps  some 
friend  of  the  Countess'.  I  had 
never  dreamed  that  fate  could 
play  me  so  sorry  a  trick  as  to 
involve  me  in  such  a  part 
against  the  woman  I  adored. 

"You  are  surprised,  Mon- 
sieur ?"  she  asked,  curious  to 
know  why  her  name  so  affected 
me,  apparently. 

"  Are  you  the  Comtesse  de 


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Villars  ?"  I  asked,  hopingagainst 
hope  that  I  had  not  heard 
aright. 

"lam." 

"But  how  could  I  know?"  I 
faltered  lamely,  able  to  think 
of  nothing  but  that  this  woman 
1  loved  so  passionately  was 
devoted  to  du  Tremigon. 

"  Monsieur  Burnham,  you 
are  full  of  mystery,"  she  said 
impatiently. 

"  I  have  told  you  nothing  but 
the  truth,  Mademoiselle." 

"  Yes  ;  but  not  all  of  it.  Is  it 
not  so  ?" 

I  was  silent  again. 

"Monsieur,"  she  resumed  at 
last,  "you  doubtless  realize  that 

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I  have  committed  a  great  im- 
prudence in  allowing  you  to 
converse  with  me  here  alone, 
under  such  circumstances  ? 
That  my  duty  should  be  to 
pull  the  bell  and  hand  you  over 
to  the  Due's  retainers  for  pun- 
ishment ?  That  you  owe  much 
to  my  forbearance  ?" 

"  I  realize  all  that  you  say, 
Mademoiselle,  and  I  am  filled 
with  gratitude  and  shame." 

"Why,  then,  are  you  here? 
What  are  you  doing  in  the 
Marquis  du  Tre'migon's  cloth- 
ing ?  What  is  that  you  hold  ?" 

I  thoughtlessly  lifted  my  hand. 

"  My  slipper !"  she  exclaimed 

indignantly,    flushing   in    her 

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turn.  "You  have  been  in  my 
closet  yonder.  What  does  it 
mean  ?  I  demand  an  answer." 

"And  you  shall  have  it!"  I 
replied  desperately,  resolved  to 
make  a  clean  breast  of  the 
whole  affair.  "I  am  in  the 
power  of  the  Marquis  du 
Tre'migon.  I  owe  him  money." 

"  Heaven  help  you  !" 

"  I  am  surprised  to  hear  you 
say  that !"  1  exclaimed  in 
amazement.  This  sounded  not 
like  a  loving  woman. 

"  Monsieur,"  she  said  quickly, 
disregarding  my  remark,  "my 
purse  is  on  the  table.  Let  me 
discharge  my  obligation.  Take 
what  you  will." 

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"Mademoiselle,  for  God's 
sake,  think  not  so  unkindly  of 
me  !  He  threatened  me  with 
imprisonment  for  debt.  That 
is  nothing,  a  mere  bagatelle. 
I  could  have  borne  that  with- 
out hesitation.  I  have  broke 
prison  before." 

"Well,  sir?" 

"There  is  more.  When  I 
escaped  from  the  British  prison- 
ship  I  was  penniless  ;  alone  in 
England.  I  halted  the  first 
traveller  I  met,  thinking  to 
despoil  the  enemy  for  my  needs 
as  an  act  of  war.  That  traveller 
happened  to  be  the  Marquis  du 
Tre'migon.  I  met  him  after- 
ward at— at  places  where  they 
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THE  SLIPPER  IS  RENOUNCED 


"Hear  me,  Mademoiselle. 
The  Marquis  du  Tre'migon 
has  informed  me  of  the 
nature  of  the  agreement  re- 
garding your  proposed  mar- 
riage." 

"  And  what  did  Monsieur  du 
Tre'migon  say  as  to  that  ?" 

' '  That  by  the  terms  of  the 
contract  three  people  must  con- 
sent willingly  before  the  mar- 
riage can  take  place." 

"Three,  Monsieur?" 

"  He  so  informed  me,  Made- 
moiselle." 

"  And  those  are  ?" 

"Yourself,  the  Due,  your 
grandfather,  and  himself," 

Her  lip  curled. 
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"  Proceed,  Monsieur.  This  is 
most  interesting." 

"He  said  further  that  you 
were — forgive  me — anxious  to 
marry  him." 

I  could  see  Mademoiselle 
clench  her  hand,  I  could  mark 
the  flash  of  her  eye,  and  I  took 
hope  and  courage  from  these 
manifestations  of  her  feelings. 

"That  he  was  anxious  to 
marry  you,  but  that  your 
grandfather  refused  his  con- 
sent," I  went  on,  my  heart 
beating  with  regained  hope. 
"And  that,  with  your  ap- 
proval, he  had  arranged  to"— it 
was  a  deeply  humiliating  thing 
to  have  to  say  with  her  standing 
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before  me  like  an  outraged  god- 
dess, but  I  had  to  go  on — "  to 
compromise  you  with  him  so 
that  your  grandfather  would  no 
longer  withhold  his  consent." 

"And  you  were  to  be  the 
means  whereby  this  plan  was 
to  be  carried  out  ?" 

"To  my  shame  I  admit  it.  I 
agreed  to  come  here  and  steal 
some  article  belonging  to  you 
of  a  personal  character." 

"My  slipper?" 

'That  or  whatever  else  I 
could  secure.  1  wore  his 
clothes  because  he  wished  the 
servants  to  recognize  them, 
and  thus  be  prepared  to  swear 
that  he  was  with  you." 
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' '  Tis  a  pretty  plot  for  a  gentle- 
man !"  she  cried  with  withering 
scorn  in  her  voice,  and  yet  a 
tinge  of  sadness  and  disap- 
pointment, too. 

"  Mademoiselle,  to  my  sorrow 
and  regret,  I  acknowledge  it," 
I  admitted  humbly.  "Yet  I 
beg  to  assure  you  that  not  even 
the  fear  of  imprisonment  or 
death  would  have  made  me 
consent,  had  I  not  believed 
that  I  was  doing  a  lady  a  ser- 
vice." 

"  Do  you  think  you  do  any 
lady  a  service  by  forcing  her 
into  the  arms  of  the  Marquis 
du  Tre'migon?"  asked  Madem- 
oiselle emphatically. 
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"But  if  she  love  him  ?"  I  urged. 

"  Monsieur,"  she  said  hotly, 
"  she  hates  him  !" 

<l  Is  it  possible  ?"  I  cried,  striv- 
ing to  control  my  agitation,  yet 
I  could  not  conceal  my  joy, 
nor  did  I  desire  so  to  do. 

"You  have  been  grossly  de- 
ceived, Monsieur,"  she  said 
swiftly.  "The  only  consent 
necessary  to  the  marriage  is 
my  own.  My  grandfather  has 
neither  given  nor  withheld  his 
consent.  He  has  left  it  en- 
tirely to  me." 

"To  you,   Mademoiselle?"  I 
exclaimed,  my  heart  leaping  at 
the  thought  that  she  did  not 
love  that  villain. 
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"To  me,  sir,"  she  answered 
proudly. 

"And  —  forgive  me — your 
answer,  Mademoiselle  ?" 

"I  have  refused  and  shall 
refuse.  The  whole  base  plot 
is  an  attempt  to  compromise 
me,  to  force  my  consent." 

Into  what  dastardly  scheme 
had  1  been  betrayed !  The 
sweat  rose  to  my  forehead. 

"  Mademoiselle,"  I  cried,  "  for 
God's  sake  acquit  me  of  any 
such  dishonor !" 

"  I  do,  Monsieur,  freely." 

She  was  as  kind  as  she  was 
beautiful.  She  believed  me 
and  forgave  me.  Judge  how  I 
loved  her  after  that. 

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"  I  shall  go  back  to  du  Tremi- 
gon  and  explain  my  appearance 
to  him  immediately,"  I  began, 
turning  away.  "  I  shall  compel 
him  to  give  me  satisfaction  for 
this  insult ;  an  insult  to  you  as 
well  as  to  me.  Your  quarrel 
with  him  shall  be  mine.  He 
will  trouble  you  no  more,"  I 
added  significantly. 

"  Stay,  Monsieur,  your  plan  is 
vain,"  she  interposed. 
"  I  know  the  Marquis  du 
Tremigon.  You  will  find  him 
surrounded  by  such  a  force  as 
will  paralyze  your  efforts.  He 
will  refuse  to  fight  with  you." 

"At  least  I  shall  have   the 
satisfaction  of  telling  him  what 
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if  necessary." 

"I  would  not  have  you 
suffer  on  my  account,  Mon- 
sieur." 

"  Mademoiselle,  you  are  kind- 
ness itself.  I  deserve  nothing 
whatever  at  your  hands.  If 
you  could  only  believe  in  me, 
in  my  love  for  you,  a  little 
before  I  go— 

"  Monsieur,  the  circumstances 
are  very  unusual.  That  day 
you  so  bravely  rescued  me 
from  those  scoundrels  and 
treated  me  with  such  chiv- 
alry, I  knew  you  were 
not  of  the  common  people. 
Your  dress  indicated  that  you 

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were,  but  my  heart — my 
mind,  that  is— told  me  other- 
wise." 

Her  voice  faltered,  but  she 
looked  at  me  clearly  with  those 
glorious  eyes  of  hers,  the 
brighter  now  for  the  color  in 
her  cheeks. 

"  But  when  I  found  you  here," 
she  resumed  presently,  "and 
thought  you  meant  to  degrade 
me,  to  force  me  into  the  arms 
of  that  villain ' 

"  Mademoiselle  !"  I  protested, 
taking  a  step  toward  the  door, 
"you  cannot  accuse  me  as  I 
do  myself.  At  least  I  can  make 
amends  now." 

"  But  is  there  nothing  I  can 


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do  for  you  ?"  she  asked,  as  if 
loath  to  let  me  go. 

"Nothing.  The  papers,  the 
obligations,  the  evidence 
against  me,  are  in  the  hands  of 
a  notary.  If  he  does  not  hear 
from  the  Marquis  and  myself 
jointly  to-morrow,  according 
to  our  arrangement  he  has 
orders  to  hand  the  packet  to 
the  Chief  of  Police." 

"What  then  do  you  propose 
to  do,  sir  ?" 

' '  First  of  all  to  warn  you.  Be- 
ware of  du  Tremigon.  This 
episode  will  tell  you  something 
of  his  despicable  villainy,  but 
not  all.  Although  he  has  failed 
in  this  instance,  he  will  surely 

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strive  again  to  compromise 
your  honor.  There  will  be 
one  ray  of  comfort  in 
my  soul  when  I  leave  you, 
that  I  have  again  been  able 
to  render  some  slight  assistance 
to  you.  And  I  cherish '  the 
hope,  if  you  think  of  me  at  all, 
that  you  will  bear  in  mind  that 
I  love  you." 

"But,  Monsieur 

"Mademoiselle,  if  1  had  met 
you  under  happier  circum- 
stances, I  should  have  made  it 
my  prayer  to  live  for  you. 
Now  at  least  I  can  die  for  you, 
and  1  trust  that  my  death  will 
redeem  this  disgrace  upon  my 
name." 

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1  laid  the  little  slipper  softly 
on  the  table.  I  kissed  it  ten- 
derly, reverently,  before  I  put 
it  down.  1  stepped  nearer  to 
her.  She  stood,  as  if  paralyzed, 
gazing  upon  me.  There  was 
a  flush  in  her  cheeks ;  her  bosom 
heaved.  I  sank  at  her  feet  and 
took  her  hand.  It  was  icy 
cold.  Mine  was  burning.  I 
kissed  it  fervently  and  rose. 

"Farewell,"  I  said,  and  just 
then  I  heard  sounds  outside, 
footsteps  in  the  hall,  followed 
by  a  knock  at  the  door  of  the 
anteroom  through  which  I  had 
to  pass  in  order  to  make  my 
escape. 

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I  MADE  a  swift  movement 
toward  the  door,  intending 
to  rush  to  the  window,  no 
matter  who  barred  the  way. 
I  reached  for  my  sword  as  I  did 
so.    Quick  as  I  was  Mademoi- 
selle was  quicker.    Although 
her    face    had    gone    white 
at  the  noise,  she  had  instantly 
begun    to    sing.    Strange  ac- 
tion,  for  which   1  could  then 
see    no    excuse.    Still    lilting 
lightly   a  charming  little  air, 
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she  stood   between    me    and 
the  door. 

"Not  that  way  !"  she  whis- 
pered in  the  breaks  of  the  song. 
"  It  would  be  death.  In  there. " 

She  pointed  toward  her  bed- 
chamber. The  knocking  was 
resumed,  this  time  more  loudly. 
A  voice  cried  : 

"Countess  .  .  .  Gabrielle!" 

Her  check  of  me  had  spoiled 
my  chance.  There  was  noth- 
ing but  obedience.  I  slipped 
into  the  chamber  and  closed 
the  door.  The  song  broke  off 
suddenly.  I  could  hear  dis- 
tinctly all  that  was  said. 
Mademoiselle  raised  her  voice, 
crying : 

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"Who  is  there?" 
"I,  your  grandfather,"  was 
the  answer. 
"Enter,  Monsieur." 
"The  door  is  locked." 
How  I    blessed    that   lock ! 
So,  I  doubt  not,  did  Mademoi- 
selle.   I  heard  her  go  slowly 
into  the  antechamber,  where 
she   seemed  to   be   fumbling 
at  the  lock  a   few   moments 
before  she  opened  the  door. 
Then    I    heard    two    people 
enter. 

"Wait,  Messieurs!"  cried 
Mademoiselle  as  she  caught 
sight  of  the  second  visitor,  "  I 
was  preparing  to  retire." 
With  marvelous  quickness,  as  I 
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afterward  learned,  she  had 
taken  off  her  bodice,  with  what 
tearing  of  laces  and  hooks  you 
can  readily  guess,  after  I  had 
entered  the  chamber,  and  was 
now  bare  as  to  neck  and  arms 
before  her  grandfather.  She 
hastily  slipped  on  a  loose 
dressing-robe  and  once  more 
turned  to  him. 

"  Tis  only  my  good  £spiau, 
Mademoiselle,"  said  the  Due 
quickly. 

"  1  am  very  glad  indeed,"  said 
Mademoiselle,  with  a  gay  little 
laugh,  which  bespoke  her 
power  of  self 
vellously  well 
ing  beautifully  in  my  listen- 
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ing  ear,  ''for  you  caught  me 
quite  unaware." 

"  \  thought,"  continued  the 
old  Due  as  he  entered  the 
boudoir,  "that  I  heard  voices." 
He  looked  around  suspiciously. 

"You  did,  Monsieur,"  an- 
swered the  Countess. 

Was  I  mistaken,  or  was  there 
a  tremble  in  her  voice  ?  Her 
situation  was  grave.  Did  the 
Due  discover  me,  he  would  kill 
me  out  of  hand,  unless  I  in- 
flicted a  like  penalty  upon  him, 
which,  under  the  circum- 
stances, never  entered  my 
mind. 

"  Great  Heavens  !"  thought  1, 
"are  you  about  to  betray  me?" 

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"Whose?"  went  on  the  old 
man  again. 

"Mine,  sir ;  I  was  singing." 

She  began  again  that  little 
song,  the  words  of  which  I 
recall  so  well  and  even,  the 
music  of  which  I  shall  never 
forget,  although  I  am  no 
great  hand  at  carrying  a 
tune.  A  song  is  one  of  the 
few  things  I  can't  master,  by 
the  way. 

"Humph  !"  said  the  old  man. 
"You  did  not  go  to  the  masked 
ball?" 

"No,  Monsieur,  I  was  tired. 
I  had  been  reading  in  the  li- 
brary and  have  but  recently 
come  here." 

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'There  was  no  one  in  the 
anteroom  when  you  entered  ?" 

"No  one,  sir." 

"  Have  you  been  in  the  room 
beyond  since  you  came  up  ?" 

"Not  yet,"  " 

"Espiau!" 

"  Monsieur  le  Due!" 

"  Examine  yonder  chamber. 
It  may  be  some  thief  has  con- 
cealed himself  there." 

The  Due  turned  his  head 
away  to  survey  the  room  and 
Mademoiselle  shot  one  glance, 
pregnant  with  agony  and  en- 
treaty, at  the  old  servant.  He 
had  been  as  a  father  to  her  from 
childhood— indeed,  he  had  been 
her  father's  foster-brother. 
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"Very  well,  Monsieur  le 
Due,"  answered  the  servant. 

I  heard  him  crossing  the  room. 
What  should  1  do?  There 
was  no  place  of  concealment. 
The  window  happened  to  be 
barred,  else  I  should  have 
thrown  myself  from  it.  Should 
I  fall  upon  him  and  run  my 
sword  through  him  ?  I  drew 
the  weapon,  without  making 
a  sound,  and  waited.  The 
door  opened  slowly  and  only 
partially.  Espiau  saw  me  at 
once.  He  put  his  finger  to  his 
lips  and  closed  his  eyes. 

"1  see  no  one,  Monsieur  le 
Due/'  he  said,  turning  his 
head. 

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"  Examine  thoroughly,"  re- 
turned the  old  man. 

£spiau  thereupon  stepped  into 
the  room,  looked  under  the 
bed,  shook  the  curtains, 
making  a  deal  of  noise  as  he 
moved  about,  and  managing  to 
say  to  me  softly  : 

''Silence,  as  you  value  your 
life  !" 

Presently  he  returned  to  the 
others.  I  breathed  a  long  sigh 
of  relief.  I  remember  wiping 
the  sweat  from  my  brow. 

"  Monsieur  le  Due  was  doubt- 
less mistaken,"  said  the  old 
man  quietly. 

"Yes,"  said  the  Due,    "I'm 

glad  of  it.    Times  are  in  such 

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disorder.  There  are  many 
masterless  men  about,  and 
your  apartment  is  easy  of  ac- 
cess from  the  garden.  I  must 
change  it,  Countess." 

"At  your  pleasure,  grand- 
father," said  Mademoiselle, 
and  then  she  actually  began  to 
sing  that  little  love  song  a  third 
time.  The  courage  of  that 
girl  was  superb  !  It  made  me 
love  her  more  madly  than  be- 
fore, if  that  were  possible. 
Being  a  fearless  man  myself,  I 
was  naturally  attracted  by  such 
qualities  in  a  woman.  She 
was  the  mate  above  all  others 
for  me,  and  I  determined  she 
should  be  mine,  if  wit,  assur- 
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ance  and  a  bold  heart  could 
bring  it  about. 

"I  am  glad  to  find  you 
here,"  said  the  Due,  "for  I 
have  brought  you  some 
papers  which  require  your  sig- 
nature. I  intended  to  leave 
them  until  morning,  but  unless 
you  feel  inclined  to  retire— 

"No,  Monsieur,  1  never  felt 
so  wide  awake  in  my  life," 
answered  Mademoiselle. 

"Good!  1 1  will  leave  them 
with  you.  Espiau  will  explain 
them  to  you,  and  we  can  finish 
the  discussion  in  the  morning. 
I  am  tired  and  feel  the  need  of 
rest.  Good  night." 

"Good  night,  grandfather," 
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said  Mademoiselle  ;  "  may  you 
rest  well." 

"Good  night,  my  child," 
said  the  old  man,  relaxing  for 
the  moment  the  formality  of 
his  address  as  he  took  her 
hand,  drew  her  toward  him, 
pressed  a  kiss  upon  her  fore- 
head, bowed  to  her  as  to  a 
queen  and  walked  away. 

The  two  left  within  the 
boudoir  moved  not  until  the 
echo  of  the  Due's  footsteps 
died  away  in  the  distance  of 
the  corridor. 

"  Mademoiselle,"  at  last 
began  fispiau  in  a  voice  in 
which  sorrow  and  affection 
strove  for  the  mastery. 

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"Judge  me  not,"  said  Made- 
moiselle quickly. 

"Who  is  that  man?" 

I  thought  now  it  was  time 
for  me  to  make  my  entrance. 
I  opened  the  door,  therefore, 
and  presented  myself. 

"My  name  is  Francis  Burn- 
ham,  my  good  fellow.  I  am 
an  officer  in  the  American 
Navy." 

"  How  came  you  here  and 
what  would  you  do  ?" 

"That  scoundrel duTr£migon 
sent  him  here  to  compromise 
me,"  the  Countess  inter- 
posed. 

"  The  dastard  !"  exclaimed 
the  servant. 

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"My  friend,"  I  interrupted, 
"what  Mademoiselle  said  is 
absolutely  true,  and  I  believed, 
furthermore,  that  1  was  doing 
her  a  service." 

"I  need  not  your  assurance 
for  that,  Monsieur,"  said  the 
old  man  proudly  ;  "the  noble 
house  of  de  Rivau  does  not 
lie." 

"I  wish  the  same  might  be 
said  of  the  house  of  du 
Tre'migon,"  I  retorted  lightly; 
"  but  be  that  as  it  may,  I  am 
not  anxious  to  forfeit  any  man's 
good-will." 

"  Not  even  that  of  a  servant, 
Monsieur?"  he  interrupted. 

"Not  even  that.  It  was  a 
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Mademoiselle  will  forgive 
me "  said  the  old  man. 

"  There  is  no  need,  my  good 
fispiau,"  said  Mademoiselle, 
extending  her  hand. 

The  worthy  servitor  kissed  it 
like  a  gentleman.  Indeed,  I 
dare  say,  compared  to  du 
Tremigon,  and  others  I  had 
met  in  Paris,  he  was  as  fine  a 
gentleman  as  any  of  them. 

"  1  should  like  to  shake  you 
by  the  hand,"  I  said. 

"  Monsieur  honors  me,"  said 
Espiau. 

1  didn't  know  whether  there 
was  sarcasm  in  his  voice  or 
not,  but  we  shook  hands 
vigorously. 

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"  Mademoiselle/'  1  continued, 
turning  to  her,  "there  is  but 
one  thing  for  me  to  do." 

"  What  is  that  ?" 

"To  wish  you  farewell  and 
to  go  as  1  came." 

"Wait,"  said  Mademoiselle, 
her  hand  on  her  breast.  "  I 
have  something  to  say  to  you. " 

"At  your  service,  Mademoi- 
selle." 

"  Espiau,  can  you  trust  me 
further  ?" 

"In  everything,  Mademoi- 
selle," said  the  old  man. 

He  was  a  well-trained  fellow, 

with  as  much  tact  as  discretion. 

He  bowed  to  me,  and  I  swear 

I  couldn't  help  it,  I  returned  his 

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THE    SLIPPER   IS    RESTORED 

"  Without  you,  I  do  not  care 
to  live." 

"Mon  Dieu,  what  shall  I 
do?" 

"If  you  could  say — if  you 
could  let  me  believe — it  will  be 
but  for  a  short  time— that,  were 
the  circumstances  other  than 
they  are,  you  might  perhaps 
have  cared  for  me,  it  will 
lighten  the  hours  and  give  me 
something  sweet  to  dwell 
upon.  It  will  make  me  in- 
different to  any  fate." 

"  Monsieur— I— I—"  she  fal- 
tered, her  face  aflame.  She 
buried  it  in  her  hands. 

I  sank  on  my  knee  again  and 
seized  the  hem  of  her  gown. 
121 


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THE  SLIPPER   IS   RESTORED 

Then  I  felt  her  hands  lightly 
upon  my  head.  1  rose  to  my 
feet.  I  don't  know  how  or 
why,  but  I  swept  her  unresist- 
ing to  my  breast  in  a  passion- 
ate embrace.  Her  lips  met 
mine.  Her  arms  went  round 
my  neck.  It  was  sweet,  it 
was  heavenly  sweet.  I  had 
won  her.  She  loved  me. 

"  No  more,"  she  said  finally, 
gently  thrusting  me  away  at 
last.  "  I  have  gone  too  far. 
You  must  not,  can  not,  go  to 
him  now." 

"I  am    in    heaven    already, 
Mademoiselle,  and  death  can- 
not   alter   the   fact   that  you 
return  my  love." 
122 


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THE  SLIPPER   IS   RESTORED 

' '  But  you  will  not  go  to  him  ?" 

"I  must." 

"No!" 

I  shook  my  head. 

"Well,  then  you  shall  not  go 
empty  handed, "  she  whispered, 
on  fire  with  a  sudden  splendid 
resolution. 

She  stooped,  and  before  I 
knew  what  she  was  about,  she 
took  off  one  of  her  dainty  slip- 
pers—warm from  her  little 
foot — and  placed  it  in  my 
hand. 

"  Give  that  to  him,"  she  said; 
"you  will  be  free  and  I  shall 
know  how  to  protect  myself." 

"Mademoiselle  !" 

"  In  pity,  leave  me  !  If  you 
123 


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are  a  gentleman,  try  me  no 
further.     Go !" 

could  not  resist  that.  Be- 
sides, after  a  warning  cough 
Espiau  thrust  his  head  through 
the  door  and  said  quickly  : 

"Someone  comes!  You 
must  hasten  !" 

I  swept  her  to  my  heart 
again.  I  kissed  her  once  more, 
and  then  with  one  backward 
glance,  I  reluctantly  tore  my- 
self away. 


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TO   scramble   down    the 
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have 

allowed  me 

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THE   SLIPPER    IS   RETURNfcD 

me  that  little  slipper,  against 
which  my  heart  throbbed  so 
madly,  if  she  had  been  indiffer- 
ent to  me.  If  she  had  not 
loved  me  as  I  loved  her.  Did 
I  intend  to  give  it  to  du  Tremi- 
gon  ?  Never !  I  should  let 
him  do  his  worst.  Something 
would  happen.  I  should  get 
out  of  it  in  some  way. 

When  we  reached  the  inn  we 
found  our  horses  ready.  After 
we  were  safely  mounted  old 
Bucknall  broke  the  silence. 

"  Did  ye  git  it,  yer  honor?" 
asked  the  old  sailor. 

"Get  it,  Bucknall?  Do  you 
remember  my  telling  you  of 
the  lady  whom  I  saved  from 

126 


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highwaymen  on  the   road  to 
Paris  ?" 

I  had  to  tell  someone.  It 
would  have  killed  me  not  to 
have  been  able  to  confide  in  a 
soul,  and  the  boatswain's  mate 
was  faithful  and  devoted  be- 
yond the  ordinary,  I  very  well 
knew. 

"  I  remembers  it  well,  sir." 
"She  was  the  lady   in  the 
house  yonder." 
"You  don't  say  so,  sir!" 
"  I  love  her,  Bucknall !" 
"Then  ye  didn't  git  it  ?"  per- 
sisted the  old  salt,  coolly. 

"Get  it?    Of  course,   I  got 
it."    I    replied.     "It's    in  my 
waistcoat,  over  my  heart." 
127 


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give     it     to     the 


"You'll 
Markis  ?" 

"Never!  I'll  keep  it  until  the 
day  of  my  death." 

"That's  likely  to  be  pretty 
soon,  your  honor,  if  what  ye 
say  is  true." 

"1  can't  help  that.  I  wouldn't 
give  it  to  that  lying  hound  to 
purchase  my  life.  When  I  die 
I  wish  it  buried  with  me." 

And  then  I  told  him  squarely 
what  a  scoundrel  the  Marquis 
was  and  how  he  had  befooled 
me  about  Mademoiselle's  de- 
sires. 

"  Wot  are  ye  goin'  to  do,  ef 
I  might  ax  yer  honor  ?" 
I'm  going  to  du  Tremigon 

128 


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THE    SLIPPER  IS   RETURNED 

and  tell  him  I  refuse  to  do  his 
bidding  and  let  him  do  his 
worst." 

"Wot'llhe  do?" 

"  Clap  me  into  prison,  I  sup- 
pose." 

"  Hadn't  we  better  cut  an' 
run  fer  it  right  now  ?" 

I  can't.    He  has  my  word  of 
honor  that  I  would  report  the 
success  or  failure  of  my  mis- 
sion." 

"I  guess   he  ain't   troublin' 
hisself  about  honor,  is  he  ?" 
"  1  suppose  not." 

II  W'y  should  you,  sir  ?" 
"That's  the  disadvantage  a 

gentleman  labors  under  in 
dealing  with  a  scoundrel." 


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THE    SLIPPER    IS  RETURNED 

"  I  see.  Hev  ye  thought  that 
ye'll  be  sarched  by  the  police 
an' " 

"By  Jove!"  I  interrupted. 
"That's  so." 

"  An'  wot  ye've  got'll  be  tuk 
from  ye  ?" 

This  was  a  new  complication. 
I  had  no  doubt  in  that  case 
that  the  slipper  would  eventu- 
ally fall  into  the  hands  of  du 
Tremigon  and  my  sacrifice 
would  avail  nothing.  What 
was  to  be  done  ?  I  could 
think  of  nothing.  I  had  no 
friends  in  Paris  in  whom  I  could 
trust  save  this  humble  sailor. 
Unless  I  gave  the  slipper  to 
him  I  should  have  to  throw  it 


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THE  SLIPPER    IS  RETURNED 

away.  In  truth  I  should  never 
have  taken  it.  It  was  a  mad 
impulse  that  possessed  the 
Countess  to  give  it  to  me,  a 
madder  that  prompted  me  to 
receive  it.  Yet  who  that  loved 
as  I,  could  refuse  such  a  token. 

"Bucknall,"  I  said  at  last, 
"you  are  right.  I  cannot  keep 
this  slipper." 

"That's  true,  sir." 

"There  is  no  one  that  I  know 
in  Paris  to  whom  I  can  intrust 
it  but  you." 

"  I  guess  not,  yer  honor." 

"  Here  it  is,"  I  said.  I  am  not 
ashamed  to  say  that  I  kissed  it 
before  I  gave  it  to  the  sailor. 
It  was  dark  and  he  could  not 


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THE  SLIPPER   IS  RETURNED 

see,  but  if  it  had  been  broad 
daylight  I  should  not  have 
cared. 

"Wot  am  I  to  do  with  it,  sir?" 
"  I  want  you  to  do  it  up  care- 
fully in  a  package.  Put  the 
best  wrapping  about  it  you  can 
manage  and  tie  it  up  shipshape. 
Leave  it  at  the  American  min- 
ister's for  Dr.  Franklin  when 
he  comes  back,  which  should 
be  to-morrow  or  next  day. 
You  can  get  someone  there  to 
address  it  to  my  father's  plan- 
tation." 

I  gave  him  the  address  and 
made  him  repeat  it  many 
times  until  he  had  it  letter- 
perfect. 

132 


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:'Now,"  1  said,  "you  must 
leave  me  and  shift  for  yourself. 
Here" -I  reached  my  hand 
in  my  pocket  and  took  out  the 
money  that  du  Tremigon  had 
given  me.  I  might  as  well  be 
hung  for  an  old  sheep  as  a 
lamb,  1  reasoned,  and  I  passed 
it  all  over  to  the  faithful  sailor. 
"You  speak  passable  French," 
I  continued — he  had  picked  up 
enough  of  the  Lingua  Franca  of 
the  Mediterranean  on  different 
cruises  to  make  himself  under- 
stood— "keep  yourself-  close 
until  you  see  the  American 
minister.  Tell  him  of  my 
plight  and  perhaps  he  may  be 
able  to  do  something.  At  any 


THE   SLIPPER   IS  RETURNED 

rate,  see  that  he  forwards  the 
package.  You  need  not  say 
what's  in  it." 

"  What  about  my  hoss,  sir  ?" 

"Give  me  the  rein." 

"AnM  thanks  God  toget  off  n 
him,"  returned  Bucknall,  slid- 
ing to  the  ground  with  great 
alacrity.  "And,  harkee,  Master 
Burnham,  ye  ain't  seen  the  last 
of  me  yet,  sir.  I've  got  a  few 
idees  in  my  ol'  head,  sir,  an' 
don't  you  git  ready  for  death 
too  suddint  like,  yer  honor." 

He  turned  in  the  darkness  and 
was  gone  in  an  instant. 

A  short  time  brought  me  to 
du  Tremigon's  house.  He  was 
waiting  for  me,  wellnigh  con- 

134 


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THE  SLIPPER   IS  RETURNED 

sumed  with  anxiety  and  curi- 
osity. I  do  not  care  to  go  into 
the  details  of  our  interview 
that  night.  Suffice  it  to  say,  I 
felt  entirely  free  to  express  my 
opinion  of  him  and  that  I  did 
so  without  let  or  hindrance. 
Of  course,  he  carried  out  his 
part  of  the  program,  and  at  day- 
break I  found  myself  in  prison 
facing  charges  of  highway 
robbery  and  debts  amounting 
to  many  thousand  francs. 
But  I  was  happy.  I  had  as- 
surance of  the  love  of  Made- 
moiselle and  I  didn't  care  a  rap 
for  anything  else.  I  felt  that 
somehow,  in  some  way,  1 
should  manage  to  get  out.  I 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS    RETURNED 

was  the  most  cheerful  prisoner 
under  such  a  heavy  indictment 
that  ever  occupied  a  cell. 
Confinement,  I  will  admit, 
was  a  little  wearing  upon  me. 
The  first  day  passed,  and  then 
a  second,  without  a  sign  from 
anybody,  and  I  was  greatly  re- 
lieved to  learn  that  my  exami- 
nation had  been  set  for  the 
morrow.  The  turnkey  who 
brought  me  my  supper  and 
gave  me  this  welcome  news 
also  slipped  me  a  note.  I  was 
hungry  enough — for  the  prison 
fare  was  scanty— but  the  note 
claimed  my  attention.  It  was 
in  a  woman's  hand,  of  course, 
and  could  only  come  from  her, 
136 


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THE    SLIPPER   IS   RETURNED 

although  it  bore  no  crest  and 
was  not  signed.  This  is  what 
it  said : 

The  turnkey  and  the  under-governor 
of  the  jail  are  bribed.  To-night,  after 
supper,  you  will  be  removed  to  an- 
other cell.  This  overlooks  the  street. 
The  bars  of  the  window  have  been 
arranged  that  they  will  come  out  at  a 
touch.  When  the  clock  in  the  nearby 
church  strikes  twelve,  a  messenger 
and  a  horse  will  await  you  in  the  alley. 

The  note  stopped  there,  and 
then  a  few  words  had  been 
added  apparently  as  an  after- 
thought : 

These  presents  from  one  who  cares 
much  what  happens  to  you. 

If  you  had  been  in  a  like  situ- 
137 


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THE    SLIPPER  IS    RETURNED 

ation  you  can  guess  what 
happened  when  1  finished  read- 
ing it.  When  I  was  calmer  I 
put  the  note  carefully  in  my 
breast  pocket  and  fell  to  my 
supper.  I  knew  that  I  should 
need  all  my  strength,  and  I 
was  of  a  practical  turn  of  mind 
even  in  the  midst  of  my  most 
romantic  dreams.  I  had 
scarcely  finished  the  poor  pro- 
vender when  the  turnkey  re- 
entered.  He  was  followed  by 
a  couple  of  other  officials. 
The  turnkey  in  a  harsh  manner, 
as  if  to  impress  the  others, 
although  he  winked  knowingly 
at  me,  said : 
"  By  the  order  of  the  com- 

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THE  SLIPPER    IS  RETURNED 

mandant  you  are  to  be  trans- 
ferred to  another  cell." 

"I  do  not  wish  to  be  trans- 
ferred," I  exclaimed  hotly,  to 
keep  up  the  deception  ;  "this 
cell  suits  me  very  well,  and  I 
am  satisfied  to  remain  here." 

"Your  wishes  are  not  con- 
sulted in  this  matter,"  he  re- 
turned roughly. 

"You  villain!"!  cried,  men- 
acing him. 

"  Have  a  care,  Monsieur,"  he 
threatened.  "If  you  don't  go 
peaceably  we'll  have  to  take 
you  by  force.  Here,  men  !" 

His  two  assistants  stepped 
forward.  I  concluded  that  I 
had  done  enough,  so  grumbling 
139 


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THE    SLIPPER    IS  RETURNED 

mightily,  and  giving  evidence 
of  my  displeasure,  I  suffered 
them  to  lead  me  to  the  other 
cell,  where  I  was  soon  locked 
in  for  the  night.  With  what 
impatience  I  waited  for  the  ap- 
pointed hour ! 

At  the  first  stroke  of  the  bell 
I  was  at  the  window,  which, 
of  course,  I  had  previously  ex- 
amined. The  bars  came  out  in 
my  hand.  Some  one  had 
chiselled  out  the  mortar  and  re- 
placed it  with  putty.  I  gained 
the  sill,  scrambled  through  and 
dropped  to  the  ground  below 
the  window.  It  was  a  long 
fall,  but  I  alighted  safely  upon 
a  truss  of  hay,  which  had  evi- 
140 


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THE   SLIPPER   IS   RETURNED 

dently  been  thrown  at  the  foot 
of  the  wall  to  receive  me.  I 
got  to  my  feet  and  looked 
about.  A  man  approached  me. 
He  had  a  weapon.  I  was 
without  arms,  and  although  I 
stood  ready  to  spring,  I  had  no 
doubt  he  was  a  messenger. 

"Monsieur    Burnham  ?"    he 
asked. 

"The  same." 

"Come  with  me." 

I  followed  him  down  the 
narrow  street  on  tiptoe.  So 
far  as  I  could  see  it  was  entirely 
deserted.  The  street  opened 
upon  a  little  park  or  square. 
Under  the  trees  I  made  out 
horses.  There  were  three  of 
141 


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THE  SLIPPER  IS    RETURNED 

them.  A  figure  sat  upon  one. 
My  heart  leaped  into  my  mouth 
as  I  discerned  it  to  be  a  woman. 
However,  I  was  allowed  ab- 
solutely no  time  for  greetings. 
One  of  the  horses  was  turned 
over  to  me.  My  conductor 
took  the  third,  first  handing 
me  a  hat  and  cloak.  Then  he 
mounted  his  own  hack  and, 
indicating  that  we  should  fol- 
low, made  his  way  rapidly  into 
the  adjoining  street.  On  ac- 
count of  the  lateness  of  the 
hour,  and  the  fact  that  the  jail 
was  in  a  remote  and  unfre- 
quented portion  of  the  town, 
the  street  was  dark  and  empty. 
We  passed  a  swinging  lantern 
142 


It 


T 


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r 

v 


«v 

• 


* 


* 

X 


THE    SLIPPER   IS  RETURNED 

presently  and  its  flickering 
rays  fell  upon  the  woman  who 
had  persistently  avoided  con- 
versation with  me.  Even 
under  this  faint  light,  although 
she  wore  a  mask  and  was 
shrouded  in  a  cloak,  1  knew 

* 

that  it  was  the  Countess. 
Nothing  could  stop  me  then. 
I  swung  my  horse  in  toward 
hers  and  laid  my  hand  on  her 
arm  as  we  cantered  along  the 
deserted  street. 

"Mademoiselle,"  I  said,  "it  is 
to  you  that  I  owe  my  free- 
dom." 

"Not  yet,"  she  replied,  but 
she  did  not  shake  offmy  hand, 
and  we  rode  side  by  side,  the 


tfTSTni 


A 
*  . 

* 

A 
" 


THE   SLIPPER   IS   RETURNED 

horses    going     at     a     good 
pace. 

"First,  you  gave  me  some- 
thing to  live  for—  "  I  said. 

"That  was?" 

"Yourself.  Now  you  give 
me  life  to  enjoy  you." 

"  Monsieur,"  she  said,  dodg- 
ing the  issue,  "we  have  but 
little  time  to  converse.  I 
learned  of  your  plight— 

"  How,  Mademoiselle  ?" 

"  From  your  servant,  an 
ancient  sailor.  He  followed 
you,  discovered  where  you 
were  imprisoned,  and  immedi- 
ately sought  me." 

"How  did  he  get  access  to 
you  ?" 

144 


^-.f 


1' 
\ 

r 


r 

r 


fc 


ST 

a 


THE    SLIPPER  IS   RETURNED 

"He  had  a^talisman,  Mon- 
sieur," she  answered  after  a 
moment  of  hesitation,  "that 
nsured  him  an  immediate 
nearing. "  I  was  completely 
puzzled,  but  now  Mademoiselle 
gave  me  no  time  for  reflection. 
She  went  on  hurriedly,  as  if  to 
stop  further  questioning  :  "I 
bribed  the  commandant  and 
turnkey.  1  provided  these 
horses.  The  man  ahead  of  us 


'  Espiau  !"  1  exclaimed. 

1  Yes.  He  will  conduct  you 
out  of  France." 

'And  you  came,  Mademoi- 
selle  ?" 

'To  say  farewell." 

145 


r/ 


J 

i* 


* 


THE   SLIPPER   IS  RETURNED 

"Never!"  I  cried.  "I  will 
leave  France,  Mademoiselle, 
but  not  alone." 

"You  mean?" 

"  I  take  you  with  me." 
1  Impossible !" 

"  But  do  you  not  love  me  ?" 
She  was  silent.  "  Would  you 
have  done  all  this  for  me  if 
you  had  not  ?"  I  persisted. 

"  Gratitude,  Monsieur,  for 
services  rendered,  and " 

"Nonsense!"  I  said,  laugh- 
ing, "  you  know  that  you  care. 
Why,  I  have  lived  in  the  prison 
upon  the  memory  of  that  - 

"  You  are  cruel,  Monsieur." 

"Is  it  cruel  for  a  man  who 
loves  a  woman  to   take  the 
146 


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US 

Is 


i 


T 


^ 


V 


• 

I 


THE   SLIPPER    IS   RETURNED 

woman,  if  she  loves  him,  away 
with  him?" 

I  was  young  and  reckless.  I 
didn't  care  what  happened.  I 
urged  my  horse  closer  to  hers 
and  slipped  my  arm  around 
her.  She  struggled,  but  not 
very  hard,  and  despite  her 
endeavors  I  kissed  her.  Then 
she  gave  up,  for  her  head  sank 
on  my  shoulder. 
"Don't!"  she  whispered. 
"  You  are  so  strong.  1  cannot 
let  you  go- 
That  was  a  wise  pair  of  horses, 
for  they  stopped  while  I  poured 
out  my  soul  to  her  there  and 
then.  What  her  answer  might 
have  been  I  know  not.  Yet  I 
147 


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T£ 

$' 


U  T 


T 


rj 


IT 

rl 


- 


TV 


THE  SLIPPER   IS    RETURNED 

solemnly  vow  that  I  was  quite 
prepared  to  take  her  away  by 
force  when  we  were  suddenly 
alarmed  by  Espiau.  He  had 
most  discreetly  ridden  ahead  a 
few  paces  ;  now  he  came  back 
at  a  gallop. 

"Soldiers!"  he  exclaimed 
hurriedly.  "  The  King's  Guard ! 
We  must  flee !" 

"Monsieur,"  said  Made- 
moiselle, quickly  releasing  her- 
self and  thrusting  a  little 
parcel  into  my  hand,  "here  is 
that  talisman.  Go!  unless 
YOU  wish  to  disgrace  me. 
Espiau  and  I  will  remain  here." 

She  had  right  on  her  side. 

For  her  sake  we  must  not  be 

148 


f 


THE   SLIPPER   IS    RETURNED 

found  together.  To  assist  in 
the  escape  of  a  prisoner  charged 
with  a  capital  offence,  was  a 
serious  matter.  1  swerved  my 
horse  and  started  away.  But 
I  had  not  gone  ten  paces  before 
a  heavy  hand  seized  the  bridle 
and  a  stern  voice  bade  me  stand 
in  the  King's  name.  Lights 
appeared  on  the  instant  and  I 
saw  that  I  was  surrounded.  I 
cast  one  glance  backward 
toward  Mademoiselle  and 
Espiau.  They,  too,  had  been 
arrested.  It  was  a  trap  !  The 
whole  party  had  been  taken. 
Back  of  the  men  who  had 
stopped  me  I  noticed  a  single 
horseman  staring  hard  at  me. 

149 


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Eh 


THE  SLIPPER    IS   RETURNED 

"  Have  you  got  him  ?"  he 
asked  as  he  drew  nearer. 

"Yes,  Monsieur  le  Due." 

I  recognized  his  voice.  It  was 
Mademoiselle's  grandfather, 
and  this  was  my  most  un- 
promising introduction  to  him  ! 

"Take  him  to  my  house," 
said  the  old  man  shortly. 

The  next  moment  du  Tremi- 
gon  spurred  through  the 
throng.  It  was  he  who,  with 
the  remainder  of  the  King's 
Guard,  had  apprehended 
Mademoiselle  and  Espiau.  He 
shot  one  venomous  glance  at 
me,  in  which  triumph  was 
mingled  with  hate,  and  ap- 
proached the  Due,  whispering 
150 


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1 

T 


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tf 
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^-;^§ 

Pf 
\ 

^Sf\ 

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j^ii 

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f 

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1 

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r 
f 

l\i 

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THE   SLIPPER   IS   RETURNED 

r/r 

r   :| 

II?  i 

\ 

a  few  words.     I  saw  the  old 

IT  :' 

:%: 

:'^: 

^  ~ 

man  start  violently  ;  a  look  of 

VI 

||; 

•  ¥  i 

^ 

anger  and  dismay  crossed  his 

F  i 

i 

•  ^ 

^ 

face  —  the  Marquis  spoke 

ear- 

°S  : 

:  <f  : 

i 

Is 

" 

V 

nestly  for  a  moment  or 

two. 

*/  '^ 

:  V  : 

r 

T^ 

The  Due  nodded  —  rather 

un- 

IT 

'^  = 

i  \; 

^ 

willingly,  I  thought.     The 

next 

j 

•  ^sa    • 

•«^° 

V 

moment  he  left  us  and 

rode 

y 

^  : 

i  'V  I 

T 

^ 

forward  with  du  Tremigon  to 

t 

\r 

":  TJ  ' 

t 

the  side  of  his  granddaughter. 

^ 

L  »                    • 

r 

If! 

% 

I  stared  after  them  in  despair, 

Cr 

14  i 

( 

\\\ 

X.T 

until   my    horse    was    turned 

^|  | 

Y 

\w\ 

V 

about  in  preparation  for 

our 

$  i 

1i 

y  : 

^ 

departure. 

'Y 

Y 

:  r*  : 

S 

"Where  am  I  to  be  taken?" 

^J    ' 

\* 

I  asked    one    of  the   officers 

F  : 

3^1 

T 

* 

^ 

commanding  the   escort 

that 

"€  i 

r 

* 

|,^ 

had  seized  me. 

VJ  j 

^1: 

» 

• 

% 

"  Back  to  prison." 

C  ^ 

its  • 

\ 

'? 

*  I 

# 

h 

15  1 

r  jji  i 

Y 
'»  • 

^ 

_- 

\ 

•~n^ 

,         : 

V             " 

i  • 

y,',.- 

i 

:    * 

f 

: 

V 

1 

r. 

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:/.: 

m 

r 

v 

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% 

| 

•        /'    • 

jV* 

s^ 

_ 

i 

iv 

!:  t 

• 

1' 

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II 

F 

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fl 

5^  i  * 

\rj 

v! 

-T  i 

MB 

- 

'. 
' 

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I* 

i 

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t' 

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, 

": 

P 

. 

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I 

14: 

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T:  wl 

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vi 

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T     : 

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T 

p^ 


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THE   SLIPPER   IS   RETURNED 

"And  not  to  the  Due's 
house  ?" 

"An  oubliette  will  doubtless 
be  safer  and  more  comfortable 
quarters  for  Monsieur,"  said 
the  captain  politely,  giving  the 
order  to  march. 

Fortune  had  been  both  kind 
and  unkind  to  me  once  more. 
Yet  on  the  whole  I  judged,  as  I 
lay  in  the  darkness  of  the 
damp,  wretched  dungeon,  from 
which  no  escape  seemed  pos- 
sible, that  the  balance  was  on 
the  side  of  kindness.  I  had 
enjoyed  a  breath  of  fresh  air. 
I  had  been  vouchsafed  further 
evidence  that  the  woman  I 
152 


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r 

Yj 


T  A 


>>sr<<c! 
X 


THE    SLIPPER  IS   RETURNED 

loved  returned  my  feeling.  I 
had  come  near  •  to  freedom 
with  her.  And  I  had  the  talis- 
man which  Bucknall  had 
shrewdly  used  to  gain  access 
to  her.  I  could  feel  it  in  the 
thick  darkness,  for  I  had  un- 
wrapped it  so  soon  as  1  was 
alone.  It  was  the  slipper — my 
lady's  slipper  that  had  caused 
all  the  trouble  !  As  I  pressed 
it  passionately  to  my  lips  I  felt 
the  crackle  of  paper  inside.  A 
letter !  What  would  I  have 
given  for  a  light  by  which  to 
read  it ! 

Ah,  yes,  things  looked  black 
for  me,  but  I  blessed  fortune, 
nevertheless — on  my  own  ac- 


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THE   SLIPPER   IS  RETURNED 

W 

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' 

•£ 

$ 

count,    that  is.    I  was   filled 

(F 
fs? 

^  r 

Yyl   I 

rj 

f 

tf 

with  anxiety  as  to  what  would 

5 

'£.  v  • 

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—  <ft 

happen    to    Mademoiselle  be- 

?' 

V: 

• 

^ 

F 

tween  her  grandfather  and  du 

•^ 

?  : 

k 

v'fj 

v 

Tre"migon.    There    was     one 

V« 

^^ 

V 

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other  matter  which  gave  me 

r 

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P 

i* 

grave     concern.    When      du 

% 

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T 

Tremigon  rode  up  to  the  Due 

^ 

I^F 

he  had  been  followed  by  a  ser- 

1C 

r 
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vant  on  horseback,  a  particu- 

s» 

# 

Cli 

^ 
4 

r 

1> 

larly  vicious-looking  man  with 

IP 

4; 

i 

v|: 

1 

one  eye.    The  light  was  not 

r^ 

?  „  : 

^  '• 

£ 

clear  and  I  was  not  able  to  see 

» 

\  : 

\i 

^ 

distinctly.    Yet    I    recognized 

^ 

Y 

y^i 

1 
r 

him.    Where  I  had  met  him, 

r 

V\ 

rj 

under   what   circumstances,  I 

\  : 
«? 

f 

\  :* 

r 

could  not  at  first  decide,  but  in 

r 

JyJ 

\ 
\ 

r 

t 

the  darkness  of  that  dungeon 

^* 

1 

T* 

Wjf     • 

^r  ; 
%  • 

% 
»^ 

T 

it  all  came  back  to  me.    He 

T 

y 

1  : 

T«  : 

^ 

154 

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THE   SLIPPER   IS   RETURNED 

was  the  man  whose  wrist  I  had 
broken  with  my  cudgel  when 
Mademoiselle  had  been  at- 
tacked. He  was  evidently  the 
leader  of  that  assault  upon  her. 
She  had  spoken  of  the  Queen's 
despatch.  Could  it  be  that  du 
Tremigon  had  instigated  the 
attack  ?  It  must  have  been 
the  case.  1  decided  that  the 
fact  itself  was  of  great  impor- 
tance, and  that  possibly  I  might 
use  it  in  case  of  necessity. 


155 


* 


THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 


» 


I  GOT   through    the    night 
somehow.    The  next  morn- 
ing— I  knew  it  was  morn- 
ing,   because    some   faint 
light  had  filtered  through  a  slit 
near  the  roof— the  most  event- 
ful day  in  my  life,  which  had 
not  been  without  its  full  share 
of   surprising    incidents,    was 
ushered  in  by  a  visit  from  the 
commandant    of  the    prison. 
Why  he  honored  me  with  his 
personal  attention  was  not  ob- 


, 

4 


S»: 

v  & 


, 


T 


\ 
f 


v 


r 
v 


THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 


vious,  though  I  learned  later 
that  it  was  on  account  of  an 
order  from  the  Queen.  Curtly 
enough  he  bade  me  follow 
him,  which  I  did,  nothing  loth. 
Anything  was  better  than  that 
cursed  oubliette. 
I  fancy  that  I  must  have  pre- 
sented rather  a  sorry  counte- 
nance, for  he  was  good  enough 
to  show  me  into  a  small  room 
where  there  were  some  pass- 
able toilet  conveniences,  and 
I  made  myself  as  presentable 
as  possible.  Fortunately,  my 
clothes— 1  had  resumed  my 
own  when  I  returned  to  du 
Tremigon — were  of  good 
material  and  a  perfect  fit,  and  I 
157 


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I 

rl 


f 


f 


THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

think  I  have  already  declared 
that  1  was  rather  proud  of  my 
figure,  too.  While  there  I  took 
occasion  to  read  the  note  in 
the  slipper.  It  was  small,  like 
the  thing  that  held  it,  but  very 
sweet  was  its  message  to  me. 

"  Monsieur,  to  see  you  again  I  come 
with  Espiau  to-night.  I  bid  you  an 
eternal  farewell  and  write  what  I  dare 
not  speak — I  love  you  !" 

An  eternal  farewell,  eh  ?  I 
would  have  something  to  say 
about  that,  I  was  resolved. 

My   hat    and    cloak— those 

Mademoiselle's     consideration 

had  provided  for  me  the  night 

before— were  fetched,  and  after 

158 


-5 


r 


y 

T 


, 


% 


THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

a  good  breakfast,  which 
seemed  to  have  been  brought 
from  his  own  table,  the  com- 
mandant conducted  me  to  a 
closed  carriage,  in  which  I  was 
driven  a  long  distance  through 
the  country,  arriving  at  last  at 
a  place  that  I  afterward  found 
to  be  Versailles. 
I  had  tried  several  times  to 
converse  with  my  guards,  but 
neither  would  talk  to  me.  I 
resigned  myself  to  whatever 
was  coming,  therefore,  and 
busied  myself  with  thoughts  of 
Mademoiselle.  I  had  been  to 
Versailles  seeking  Dr.  Franklin, 
but  had  never  seen  the  royal 
palace.  Consequently  I  did 
159 


I 


r 


v 


X 


f 

* 


/ 


» 


Y 


9 


r 


THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

not  recognize  it  when  the  car- 
riage stopped  and  I  was  led 
forth.  I  supposed  that  it 
might  be  one  of  the  residences 
of  the  great  Due  de  Rivau- 
Huet. 

Before  I  had  time  to  speculate, 
however,  I  was  blindfolded 
and  led  through  numberless 
corridors,  up  and  down  flights 
of  stairs,  in  rooms  and  out  in 
bewildering  succession.  I 
made  no  resistance.  It  would 
have  been  useless,  and  the 
officers  who  brought  me 
thither  informed  me  that  no 
harm  was  intended.  Finally 
we  stopped,  hands  fumbled  at 
the  bandage,  and  I  opened  my 
1 60 


A 


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Y 


f 

\ 

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v 


F 

tf 


r 


- 
A 


V 

T 


THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

eyes  to  find  myself  in  a  mag- 
nificent apartment — an  ante- 
chamber of  some  sort,  evi- 
dently. It  was  void  of  people, 
save  ourselves  and  a  sentry  in 
the  uniform  of  the  Swiss 
Guards  at  the  door  at  the 
farther  end. 

Running  my  hand  through 
my  hair  with  the  natural  in- 
stinct of  a  young  man,  and 
shaking  myself  as  if  to  free  my 
person  by  the  motion,  at  a 
gesture  from  my  guide  I 
stepped  boldly  to  the  door. 
The  Swiss  presented  arms,  the 
official  tapped  on  the  door  and 
stepped  back,  a  voice  I  recog- 
nized bade  me  enter,  and  in 
161 


' 


,-*? 


, 


THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

another  moment  I  was  in  the 
presence  of  Mademoiselle. 
She  was  standing  near  the 
door.  1  took  one  step  toward 
her  and  fell  on  my  knees,  when 
a  scandalized  voice  exclaimed 
in  my  ear : 

"  Monsieur,  do  you  not  see 
the  Queen  ?" 

"I  do,"  I  answered,  without 
taking  my  eyes  off  Mademoi- 
selle, "and  I  kneel  to  her 
with  all  the  homage  of  my 
heart." 

Mademoiselle  blushed  vividly 
and  stepped  aside. 

"She  means  the  Queen  of 
France,  Monsieur,"  she  said 
softly. 

162 


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. 


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V  •• 

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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

As  I  knelt  there,  my  eyes  fell 
upon  a  young  woman — she 
was  only  twenty-four — seated 
farther  off  at  the  opposite  side 
of  the  room,  a  beautiful  woman 
with  a  fresh,  sweet,  innocent 
face,  with  nothing  especially 
regal  about  her,  that  I  could 
see.  I  knew  in  a  moment  that 
this  was  Marie  Antoinette. 
Such  was  my  astonishment, 
however,  that  I  remained  kneel- 
ing, my  mouth  open,  in  great 
surprise.  Her  Majesty  was 
pleased  to  laugh.  She  laughed 
as  merrily  as  a  girl. 

"Make  your  homage  to  the 
Queen  of  France,  Monsieur," 
exclaimed  the  elderly  woman 

163 


y 


,$>' 


'"T 


* 


THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

who  had  spoken  to  me  first, 
evidently  one  of  the  great 
ladies  of  the  Court. 

"Your  Majesty,"  I  replied, 
finding  my  wits  at  last,  "  1 
knelt  as  every  gentleman 
should,  to  the  queen  of  his 
heart,  and  when  she  stepped 
aside  and  revealed  to  me  the 
queen  of  all  hearts,  I  was  so 
overcome  as  to  be  unable  to 
rise." 

"Perhaps,  Monsieur,  you 
have  sufficiently  recovered  now 
to  approach  more  nearly  the 
throne,"  she  said,  obviously 
pleased  at  my  compliment. 

She  extended  her  hand  to  me. 
I  got  to  my  feet,  knelt  again 

164 


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before  her  and  kissed  it. 
Queens  are  always  beautiful, 
and  it  was  a  great  privilege  to 
be  permitted,  but  1  swear  I 
would  rather  have  kissed 
Mademoiselle's  hand  at  any 
hour.  However,  I  reflected 
that  the  honor  of  America  was 
in  a  measure  committed  to  me, 
and  I  think  I  bore  myself 
worthily. 

"Rise,  Monsieur,"  said  the 
Queen  graciously  ;  "the  Com- 
tesse  de  Villars— 

I  suppose  it  is  bad  manners  to 
look  at  one  woman  when  an- 
other woman  is  speaking  to 
you,  especially  if  that  other 
woman  be  of  royal  blood,  but 

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I  could  not  help  turning  my 
head  at  her  words. 

There  stood  Mademoiselle 
more  beautiful  than  ever.  In- 
deed, I  have  observed  that  she 
always  looks  the  better  the 
more  beautiful  the  background 
against  which  she  is  seen; 
and  Marie  Antoinette  might  be 
Queen  of  France,  but  in  my 
eyes  she  was  only  a  back- 
ground to  Mademoiselle  that 
morning — or  any  other  morn- 
ing for  that  matter ! 

"  Mademoiselle  de  Villars  tells 
me  that  you  have  rendered  me 
a  great  service." 

"If to  love  Mademoiselle  de 
Villars,"  I  began,  "  with  all  my 

1 66 


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heart  and  soul,  be  to  render 
Your  Majesty  a  service " 

"Nay,  nay,  not  that  way.  I 
fear  you  would  fain  rob  me  of 
my  fairest  maid  of  honor." 

"  It  ill  becomes  a  gentleman 
to  contradict  a  lady,"  I  replied 
quickly. 

Again  the  Queen  laughed.  1 
was  lucky  evidently. 

"What  I  meant,  Monsieur, 
was  that  Mademoiselle  de  Vil- 
lars  tells  me  that  you  saved 
her  from  assault,  capture,  I 
know  not  what,  on  the  high- 
road some  ten  days  ago." 

."Your  Majesty,  "I  bowed,  "I 
had  that  good  fortune." 

"  Mademoiselle  de  Villars  was 

167 


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on  my  errand  that  evening. 
There  were  papers  I  did  not 
care  to  intrust  to  any  save 
the  most  intimate  hand,  which 
she  was  bringing  back  to 
me." 

"  I  perfectly  understand,  Your 
Majesty." 

"  I  will  not  disguise  the  fact 
that  had  these  papers  fallen 
into  the  possession  of  an 
enemy " 

' '  The  Marquis  du  Tremigon  ?" 
I  interrupted. 

"Du  Tremigon?"  exclaimed 
Mademoiselle. 

"Why  he,  Monsieur?" asked 
the  Queen. 

"  It  was  he  who  instigated  the 

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assault  upon  Mademoiselle,  I 
am  convinced." 

"  How  know  you  this  ?" 

"One  of  the  ruffians  who 
menaced  the  lady  was  one- 
eyed.  He  wore  a  patch  over 
his  face.  I  was  lucky  enough 
to  break  his  wrist  with  my 
cudgel." 

"A  strange  weapon  for  a 
gentleman,"  said  Her  Majesty. 

"Tis  honored  above  my 
sword,  in  that  it  served  Made- 
moiselle," I  answered. 

"  You  have  a  French  twist  to 
your  tongue,  Monsieur,"  said 
the  Queen,  approvingly. 
"Proceed." 

"  I  recognized  the  man  in  the 

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Marquis  du  Tr£migon's  fol- 
lowing last  night,  Your 
Majesty." 

"I  know  whom  he  means, 
Madame;  I  saw  him,  too," 
said  Mademoiselle.  "I  heard 
Monsieur  duTr^migon  call  him 
Babin.  Strange  to  say,  I  did 
not  recognize  him  before." 

"That  agrees  perfectly  with 
my  recollection,  Madame,"  1 
asserted  confidently.  "I  re- 
member that  the  man  who  ran 
away  that  day  on  the  road 
called  him  by  that  name." 

"And  you  think  the  Marquis 
du  Tremigon  wanted  these 
papers  ?"  continued  the  Queen, 
am  sure  of  it,  Madame." 

170 


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"  But  why  ?" 

"Your  Majesty  knows  that 
he  is  a  suitor  for  the  hand  of 
Mademoiselle  de  Villars.  He 
hoped  doubtless  that  if  he 
could  get  the  papers  he 
might—  "  I  hesitated.  It  was 
an  ugly  word  to  say,  yet  the 
Marquis  du  Tremigon  had 
shown  himself  to  me  in  his 
true  colors,  and  I  knew  there 
was  no  knavery  he  would  stop 
at.  "  He  hoped  to  influence 
you,  and,  through  you,  Made- 
moiselle. By  the  terms  of  her 
father's  will  she  must  consent 
willingly  to  the  marriage,  else 
the  contract  is  void." 

'  You  seem  to  know  a  great 

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deal  about  the  affairs  of  Made- 
moiselle, Monsieur." 

"  1  intend,  with  your  permis- 
sion, Madame,  to  know  every- 
thing about  them  in  the 
future/' 

The  Queen  smiled. 

"He  is  droll,  this  cavalier. 
He  speaks  like  a  Frenchman, 
and  woos  like  an  American." 

"Have  I  your  permission, 
Madame  ?"  asked  Mademoi- 
selle. 

"Certainly,  my  dear." 

"It  was  the  Marquis  du 
Tre"migon  who  betrayed  us 
last  night,"  she  said,  turning  to 
me. 

"  Another  score  to  be  settled 

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between  us,"  I  said  under  my 
breath. 

"  He  has  a  creature  in  his  pay 
in  my  grandfather's  house,  and 
through  him  he  learned  my 
plan, "explained  Mademoiselle. 
"He  laid  a  very  clever  trap. 
Although  he  could  have 
stopped  me  at  any  time,  he 
allowed  us  to  go  on,  that  we 
might  be  caught  in  the  act. 
Now  he  hopes  to  win  my 
grandfather's  consent  to  this 
marriage,  and  perhaps  by  that 
means  force  it  upon  me." 

"  You  shall  never  marry  him," 
I  protested,  utterly  oblivious  of 
everything,  everybody,  except 
Mademoiselle  and  that  fact. 


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"And  why  not,  pray,  Mon- 
sieur ?"  asked  the  Queen. 

"  Because,  Your  Majesty,  I 
shall  marry  her  myself." 

"Indeed!" 

"The  word  of  a  gentleman, 
Madame,"  I  said. 

"  But  are  you  a  gentleman  ?" 
asked  Marie  Antoinette.  There 
was  an  accent  of  raillery  in 
her  voice  that  robbed  the 
question  of  its  sting.  "One 
day  you  masquerade  as  a  sailor. 
The  next  day  you  enter  Made- 
moiselle's apartments  " —she 
knew  all,  then  ! — "as  a  thief. 
To-day  you  stand  before  me  as 
a  criminal." 

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to  ask  you  to  wear  this  in 
memory  of  my  gratitude." 

She  drew  a  rarely  beautiful 
diamond  ring  from  her  finger 
and  extended  it  to  me.  I  kissed 
the  hand  and  slipped  the  ring 
upon  my  little  finger. 

"Your  Majesty  overwhelms 
me,"  I  said. 

"  The  reward  scarcely  equals 
your  merit,  Monsieur,  and  it 
does  not  even  approach  your 
assurance." 

"Mademoiselle  would  make 
a  craven  bold,  Madame." 

"  Doubtless,"  said  the  Queen. 
"  And  now  we  have  the  honor 
to  wish  you  a  safe  return  to 
America." 

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"I  am  a  criminal,  Madame, 
and  respect  no  conventions 
save  those  dictated  by  my 
own  heart." 

I  could  swear  that  Mademoi- 
selle gave  me  one  grateful 
glance. 

"Is  that  the  custom  of 
America?"  asked  the  Queen, 
frowning. 

"  Of  the  world,  Madame. 
When  one  loves  as  I,  there  is 
but  one  custom." 

"That  is?" 

"To  give  one's  self  to  the 
chosen  one  and  to  take  her  for 
his  own." 

The  situation  was  becoming 

impossible.     It  was  fortunately 

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saved  for  me  by  the  entrance 
of  an  equerry. 

"  Your  Majesty" — he  stopped 
and  bowed  low — "Monsieur 
le  Marquis  du  Tremigon  would 
like  the  honor  of  an  audience." 

"Monsieur,"  said  the  Queen, 
turning  to  me,  "  you  still  per- 
sist in  this  mad  resolution  ?" 

"Madame,  I  am  determined 
in  it.  There  is  but  one  voice 
that  can  send  me  to  America — 
alone." 

"And  that  voice  ?" 

"  Is  Mademoiselle's." 

"Speak  to  him,  Gabrielle," 
said  the  Queen. 

Mademoiselle  turned  and 
looked  at  me.  Her  lips  formed 

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a  word  ;  she  drew  her  breath 
sharply  in,  but  no  sound 
came. 

"With  reverence  to  Your 
Majesty,  that  word  Mademoi- 
selle cannot  say." 

"  Why  not,  Monsieur  ?" 

"Because  she  loves  me,"  I 
answered  confidently. 

The  Queen  looked  from  one 
to  the  other  of  us.  I  only 
looked  at  Mademoiselle.  She 
could  not  sustain  the  concen- 
trated force  of  two  such  stares 
as  ours.  She  hid  her  face  in 
her  hands. 

"Ma  foi/'  said  Marie  Antoi- 
nette, with  one  of  those  quick 
changes  of  mood  which  made 

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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

her  so  fascinating,  "it  is  even 
so.  Before  two  such  lovers,  I 
may  be  pardoned  if  I  forget 
that  I  am  a  queen  and  remem- 
ber only  that  I  am  a  woman." 

"May  God  bless  Your  Maj- 
esty for  those  words  !  "  I  cried 
enthusiastically.  "  Does  that 
mean—  -?  " 

"That  I  am  on  your  side, 
Monsieur.  Satisfy  me  of  what 
has  been  told  me  of  yourself 
this  morning  and  we  shall  see." 

The  look  that  she  gave  me 
spoke  volumes.  I  was  speech- 
less with  happiness.  To  satisfy 
her,  every  one,  of  my  position 
would  be  easy.  If  only  I  could 
get  word  to  Dr.  Franklin.  He 
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had  been  a  friend  of  my  father 
in  the  colonies.  He  knew  many 
people  1  knew,  and  if  that  mad 
little  Scotsman,  Paul  Jones, 
were  here  he,  too,  would  be  on 
my  side.  The  Queen  gave  me 
no  time  for  reply,  for  she  turned 
to  the  equerry  and  said  : 
"  I  will  see  Monsieur  du  Tre"- 
migon.  But  wait  one  moment. 
Before  he  is  admitted,  I  wish 
you  to  go  into  that  room,  Mon- 
sieur Burnham.  Leave  the  door 
open  and  stand  behind  the 
arras.  You  "  —she  turned  to 
the  elderly  lady,  who  had  dis- 
creetly withdrawn  to  the  em- 
brasure, and  had  been  carefully 
studying  the  landscape  during 

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the  interview  between  the 
Queen,  Mademoiselle  and  my- 
self— "  Madame,  will  you  ask 
the  Due  de  Rivau-Huet  to  come 
into  the  small  room  where 
Monsieur  Burnham  goes  and 
wait  there  until  I  call  him 
forth  ?  Tell  him  I  beg  him  on 
no  account  to  give  note  of  his 
presence  until  he  is  summoned. 
Now"  -she  turned  to  the 
equerry  again — "bring  hither 
the  Marquis  du  Tremigon." 

I  bowed  low  to  Her  Majesty 
and  lower  to  Mademoiselle, 
and  entered  the  apartment  the 
Queen  had  indicated.  The 
Due  de  Rivau-Huet  had  evi- 
dently been  waiting,  for  a  mo- 

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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

You  come  at  an  opportune 
time,  therefore." 

"Any  time  that  I  can  be  of 
service  to  Your  Majesty  is  op- 
portune," he  answered— the 
clever  villain  had  a  glib  tongue, 
as  he  had  a  fine  taste  in  clothes, 
I  could  but  admit.  "  I  wish 
that  Your  Majesty,"  he  con- 
tinued, "could  give  me  a  re- 
turn wish  for  my  remark." 

"And  what  would  that  be, 
Monsieur  ?  " 

"That  every  woman  in  France 
might  desire  to  see  me,  Ma- 
dame." 

"That    would    be    an    em- 
barrassment  of   riches,"    she 
returned  lightly. 
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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

"  I  should  be  satisfied  if  the 
one  nearest  Your  Majesty  cher- 
ished that  desire,"  was  his 
quick  rejoinder. 

He  shot  one  glance  at  Made- 
moiselle. I  could  see  them  by 
moving  the  hangings  slightly, 
and  1  did  not  scruple  to  look. 
The  old  Due  stood  like  a  stone, 
wondering  why  he  had  been 
broughtthere,  and  as  yet  unable 
to  comprehend  the  situation. 

''You  said  that  you  wished  to 
see  me,  Monsieur  ?"  asked  the 
Queen,  disregarding  his  last 
remark. 

"My  desire  gives  place  to 
Your  Majesty's." 

And  my  will  claims  prece- 
186 


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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

dence  of  yours,  Monsieur," 
she  remarked  with  a  touch  of 
impatience.  "Proffer  your 
petition." 

"Your  Majesty,  I  love  de- 
votedly the  Comtesse  de  Vil- 
lars.  We  were  betrothed  in 
childhood.  The  time  for  the 
carrying  out  of  the  contract 
our  fathers  made  has  arrived. 
I  crave  Your  Majesty's  influence 
to  persuade  Mademoiselle  de 
Villars  to  honor  me." 

There  was  a  certain  amount 
of  truth  in  the  rascal's  words. 
I  wondered  if  he  really  loved 
her  a  little  bit,  or  whether  it 
was  only  for  her  money  he 
sought  her. 


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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

"  But  Mademoiselle  de  Villars 
does  not  love  you,  Monsieur." 

"With  Your  Majesty's  aid  I 
trust  I  shall  be  able  to  teach 
her  to  do  so." 

"1  fear  that  task  is  beyond 
you  or  me,  Monsieur  du  Tre- 
migon." 

"  Permit  me  in  Your  Majesty's 
own  interest  to  dispute  that 
assertion." 

"  How  now,  Gabrielle  ?"  said 
the  Queen,  turning  to  Made- 
moiselle. 

"I  hate  him  !"  she  cried.     I 
could  see  du  Tremigon  wince. 
You  hear,  Monsieur  ?" 

hear,  Madame,  but  " — he 
tore  off  the  disguise  now  and 
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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 


"You  coward  !"  cried  Made- 
moiselle. 

"Patience,  Gabrielle,"  said 
Marie  Antoinette  quickly. 
"You  have  proofs  of  that  as- 
sertion, sir?" 

From  where  I  stood  with  a 
backward  glance  I  could  see 
the  old  Due.  He  had  his  hand 
on  his  sword,  his  face  was  as 
white  as  death.  He  was  per- 
fectly rigid.  He  had  been  told 
to  remain  where  he  was,  how- 
ever, until  he  was  summoned, 
and  he  would  not  move. 

"You  have  witnesses  ?"  con- 
tinued the  Queen. 

"Madame,  I  have.  I  was 
seen  to  go  through  the  gate 
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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

after  ten  o'clock.  I  climbed  to 
Mademoiselle's  window  by  the 
ivy.  I  remained  in  her  apart- 
ment over  an  hour— till  mid- 
night. It  was  this  suit  that  I 
now  wear  in  which  I  presented 
myself  to  Mademoiselle."  He 
turned  swiftly  to  the  Comtesse. 
"Does  not  Mademoiselle  rec- 
ognize the  habit  ?"  he  queried, 
with  a  triumphant  leer. 

She  shuddered  away  from 
him.  And  indeed  he  had  on 
the  clothes  I  had  worn  ! 

"You  do  recognize  it, 
Gabrielle  ?"  asked  the  Queen. 

Mademoiselle  said  nothing, 
but  it  was  quite  evident  that 
she  did.  What  the  Due 


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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

thought  of  all  this  I  could  not 
tell. 

"Your  story,"  said  the  Queen 
composedly,  turning  to  the 
Marquis,  "  is  most  interesting, 
Monsieur,  if  it  could  be  be- 
lieved." 

"  Out  of  consideration  for  one 
of  your  maids  of  honor "  —I 
could  have  killed  him  at  the 
hateful  emphasis  he  laid  on  that 
last  word — "I  hope  I  may  be 
spared  the  pain  of  public  testi- 
mony, Madame,"  he  replied. 

"You  give  me  your  word  of 
honor  that  three  nights  ago 
you  were  in  Mademoiselle's 
apartments  ?"  asked  her 
Majesty. 

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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

"I  do." 

"Your  word  of  honor  as  a 
gentleman  ?" 

'  Your  Majesty  has  said  it." 

'Oh,  this  is  infamous — in- 
famous !"  cried  Mademoiselle. 

*  And  you,  Comtesse,  what 
do  you  say  ?"  continued  the 
Queen. 

'  It  is  a  falsehood,  a  dastardly 
falsehood !" 

A  look  of  relief  swept  over 
the  old  Due's  face  then.  His 
apprehension  gave  place  to  a 
growing  anger.  I  could  realize 
how  hard  it  was  for  him  to  re- 


main quiet  beyond  that  cur- 
tain. As  for  me  I  would  have 
given  everything  on  earth  ex- 


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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 


cept  Mademoiselle  for  leave  to 
go  out  and  kill  du  Tremi- 
gon. 

"  You  do  not  wish  to  marry 
this  man— pardon,  this  gentle- 
man—Gabrielle  ?"  asked  Marie 
Antoinette. 

"I  would  rather  kill  my- 
self!" 

"Monsieur  du  Tremigon," 
said  the  Queen,  gently,  "  have 
mercy  !" 

' '  Madame,  love  has  no  mercy. 
I  am  passionately  devoted  to 
Mademoiselle." 

"And  is  that  why,"   asked 

Marie  Antoinette,  with  a  swift 

change  of  manner,  "that  you 

set  your  man,  Babin,  and  two 

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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

other  ruffians  to  attack  Made- 
moiselle on  the  road  to  Paris 
ten  days  ago  ?" 

She  drove  her  query  home 
with  the  directness  of  a  sword- 
thrust.  The  Marquis  gasped, 
fell  back,  utterly  dismayed. 
He  moistened  his  lips  and 
strove  to  speak. 

"  I— I  do  not  know  what  Your 
Majesty  means—  "  he  faltered. 
"I  once  had  a  servant  called 
Babin  in  my  employ,  but  I  have 
discharged  him." 

"You  did  not  know,"  con- 
tinued the  Queen  pitilessly, 
"that  Mademoiselle  was  carry- 
ing papers  of  infinite  concern 
to  me  ?  Relying  on  your 

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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

sense  of  honor  "  —she  smiled 
mockingly— k<  I  tell  you  the 
truth.  They  were  letters  that 
I  had  written  years  ago— silly, 
foolish  letters,  which  yet  might 
have  given  me  trouble.  Made- 
moiselle volunteered  to  get 
them  from  their  owner— who 
was  willing  to  part  with  them 
for  a  price— and  bring  them  to 
me.  And  you,  Monsieur  du 
Tremigon,  having  learned  this 
in  some  way — oh,  1  have 
fathomed  the  whole  proced- 
ure," she  went  on,  rising  and 
confronting  him  with  outraged 
dignity  in  royal  mien— "  you 
thought  to  get  me  in  your 
power  and  force  a  consent 

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from     Mademoiselle    through 

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the  table    at 

her 

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equerry  presented  himself. 
"  Is  Monsieur  Espiau  there  ?" 

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she  asked. 

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"Yes,  Your  Majesty." 

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THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

servant  of  the  Due  entered  and 
fell  on  his  knees  before  the 
Queen. 

"  Rise,  my  friend,"  she  said, 
with  that  gentle  grace,  that 
benignity,  that  ought  to  have 
endeared  her  to  the  whole  of 
France,  high  and  low,  rich  and 
poor ;  "  were  you  at  the  Hotel 
de  Rivau-Huet  on  last  Wednes- 
day night  ?" 
"Yes,  Your  Majesty." 
"Were  you  in  the  apart- 
ments of  the  Comtesse  de 
Villars?" 

"  I  was,  Your  Majesty." 
"  Between  the  hours  of  eleven 
and  twelve  ?  " 
"Yes,  Your  Majesty." 

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7 

IT 


THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

the  Marquis  du  Tremigon  was 
in  his  hotel  between  the  hours 
of  eight  in  the  evening  and  one 
in  the  morning.  By  no  possi- 
bility could  he  have  been  in 
the  apartment  of  Mademoiselle 
de  Villars.  Furthermore,  the 
man  Babin  was  in  his  employ 
yesterday." 

"  You  hound  !  "  cried  du  Tre- 
migon, and  then  1  stepped 
toward  him.  He  shrank  back. 
I  stepped  nearer.  The  Queen 
might  have  interfered,  but  I 
rather  think  she  enjoyed  it. 

"You  know,"  I  said,  frown- 
ing at  him,  "that  you  were 
not  in  the  apartment  of  the 
Comtesse  de  Villars  on  that 
200 


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THE 

SLIPPER  AT 

COURT 

r4' 

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$ 

Y 

evening 

or 

any  other  evening." 

Y. 

YA' 

| 

He  opened  his  mouth 

as  if  to 

j> 

Y'4 

speak. 

'Not  a  word,  sir,  or 

£' 

3 

$' 

•Jr 

I'll  kill 

you  where  you  stand  !  " 

% 

/ 

c 

ir 

•SB 

I  continued  sternly. 

/ 

•( 

Y 

"Your  Majesty,  "  he  cried,  dex- 

1 

r 

Y 

terously  avoiding  me,  "  will  you 

<os» 

»' 

condemn  me  on  the  testimony 

y 

y 

of  a  lackey  and  a  criminal  ?  " 

•» 

w 

I  started 

toward 

him 

again, 

v 

, 

T 

J? 

but  the 

Queen  raised  her 

hand. 

^' 

J 

'£Y 

She    looked    at   the 

equerry 

r 

' 

once  more 

,  he  was 

an 

old  and 

G? 

Y| 

if 

trusted 

attendant,  upon  whom 

V 

j£ 

^ 

she  could  rely. 

Yl 

V 

w 

a 

"The 

Due 

de  Rivau-Huet"— 

§-;' 

v' 

1' 

she    pointed    to    the 

door— 

:% 

& 

y 

V 

"bring  him 

here." 

VJ 

X 

< 

1 

>< 

The  Due 

was  almost  as 

quick 

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r 


THE  SLIPPER  AT  COURT 

as  I.  The  curtain  was  torn 
aside  and  he  came  in  erect, 
with  his  hand  on  his  sword. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  bowed 
low  before  her,  a  graceful  and 
gallant  old  gentleman. 

"Monsieur  le  Due,"  said  the 
Queen,  extending  her  hand  to 
be  kissed,  "you  are  ever  wel- 
come. As  the  head  of  the 
house  to  which  the  Marquis 
du  Tremigon  belongs,  I  wish 
you  to  hear  his  charges  and  his 
denials,  that  you  may  judge 
him  accordingly." 

"I  have  heard,  Your  Maj- 
esty," said  the  Due,  "and give 
me  leave  to  say  I  need  neither 
the  evidence  of  Espiau  nor  of 
202 


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, 

r 

•*£<& 

1 

1 

; 

1 

* 

c* 

THE 

SLIPPER 

AT 

COURT 

5 

Ct 

1 

t 

Tib' 

this 

gentleman  —  whoever  he 

|Y 

T/s 

•Y 

£» 

may 

be  —  to  convince  me  that 

v  '; 

•r 

the  Marquis  du 

Tremigon  has 

^° 

''% 

*j? 

r 

lied." 

>J 

?' 

" 

V 

"And 

I  tell 

you,"  burst  out!  *£ 

^fe 

* 

the  Marquis,  desperately,  "that     r 

T'l 

r 

"4  v 

this  man  is 

a 

common  thief,  a 

"r^ 

gv 

T 

\ 

highway  robber 

and—"     He 

^ 

' 

' 

w 

pointed 

to  me. 

'%\ 

t 

f,Y 

"Have    a   care, 

Monsieur," 

^/ 

V 

* 

•  M 

said 

Marie  Antoinette  quickly  ; 

?» 

-j 

Y 

f 

"highway  robbery 

is 

a  grave 

% 

*» 

& 

y 

accusation. 

Was 

it 

on   the 

^ 

% 

y 

road 

to    Paris 

that  he  corn- 

Cr 

y 

T 

i» 

mitted  this 

highway  robbery  ? 

»i 

lv 

j 

» 

T 

* 

This 

is 

a  most  serious  indict- 

/ 

fi? 

i$i' 
'&  * 

ment. 

Look 

again. 

Think  ! 

'Af 

/ 

/.J" 

Do  you 

press 

the 

charge  ?    Do 

4**' 

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A 
" 

cte 

you 

really  mean 

it?" 

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v 


CHAPTER    VII 


THE    SLIPPER  S    WEARER 


H 


IS  Majesty  the  King  !  " 
cried  an  usher  at  the 
great  door,  throwing  it 
open.     "  His     Excel- 
lency,   the    Minister    of    the 
United  States,    Dr.   Benjamin 
Franklin,     Commodore    John 
Paul  Jones,  Monsieur  Bucknall, 
sailor,"  he  added. 
Into  the  room  came  the  King 
of  France,  a  stout,  heavy-set, 
rather    stupid-looking    young 
man.    Following   him    I  saw 
204 


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. 


v 


f 

r 

Y 


J. 


THE  SLIPPER'S   WEARER 

the  familiar  figure — I  had  seen 
many  portraits  of  him  in 
public  prints— of  Dr.  Benjamin 
Franklin.  By  his  side— and  it 
was  a  good  sight  for  any  eyes- 
walked  the  handsome  little 
daredevil  of  a  Scotsman  in  his 
naval  uniform,  looking  as  cocky 
as  if  he  had  been  strutting  on 
his  own  quarter-deck.  And 
then — did  my  eyes  deceive 
me  ? — came  the  rolling  form  of 
worthy  Master  Bucknall.  I 
blessed  that  honest  seaman  in 
my  heart.  He  had  brought 
Mademoiselle  to  my  assistance 
in  the  prison  and  now  he  had 
completed  his  work  by  looking 
|up  Dr.  Franklin  and  the  rest. 
205 


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Y 


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r 


THE   SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

Where  he  had  found  the  Com- 
modore I  did  not  know. 

I  had  heard  he  had  recently 
arrived  at  L'Orient,  but  not 
that  he  had  come  to  Paris. 

"  Madame,"  said  the  King, 
approaching  the  Queen,  who 
courtesied  deeply  before  him, 
"I  wish  you  good  morning. 
Ah,  Due,  I  am  always  glad  to 
see  you.  Mademoiselle  de 
Villars,  you  are  fit  to  stand 
before  Her  Majesty,  and  I  could 
pay  you  no  higher  compli- 
ment." 

I  was  amazed  to  hear  this  fat, 

commonplace,     prosy-looking 

man  speak  so  pleasantly,  but 

in  sooth  Mademoiselle,   with 

206 


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ftfc 

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V 

THE 

SLIPPER'S 

WEARER 

r}} 

<k 

/. 

•  •» 

V  f 

«« 

her   cheeks 

flushed, 

a 

little 

:  Y\ 

/J 

sparkle 

of  tears  in  her 

eyes, 

Jl 

^1  her  head  thrown 

back—  well, 

!& 

v 

any  man  of  taste 

would 

have 

'% 

r 

recognized 

which 

was  Queen 

V- 

* 

* 

of  Love 

and 

Beauty 

in 

that 

tv  I 

- 

IT,!  room. 

The 

King 

bowed 

*<< 

shortly 

and 

coldly  to 

du  Tre- 

•^  i 

&!  1  1  1^    :  migon 

and 

looked 

with 

some 

1^  : 

T 

Y 

interest 

at 

me. 

v|: 

f\ 

^ 

"Monsieur,"  said 

the  Queen 

IT! 

* 

1 

to  her 

husband, 

"will 

you 

vl- 

V 

y»< 

allow 

me 

to 

present 

to  you 

#J  i 

Monsieur  Burnham,  an  Amer- 

^ : 

T 

IT 

ican  naval  officer  ?" 

rjj 

M 
^ 

1 

I  bowed  low  before  the  King. 

^  ^ 

\ 

r 

/ 

France 

was 

our  ally 

and  we 

^.i 

I; 

hoped 

much  from  her, 

and  al- 

rJl 

T4* 

though 

we 

in 

America 

had  cut 

f*  i 

r 

if 

207 

rji 

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s 

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Ft 

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n 

r 

s 

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2 

'^i 

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K 

s 

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yl 

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Y  v 

l-.T 

TJ$ 

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KT 

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j^Jj1 

r 

THE   SLIPPER'S  WEARER 


* 

" 


kings  and  queens  out  of  our 
books,  I  felt  it  necessary  for 
me  to  be  politic. 

"  Dr.  Franklin,  you  are  always 
welcome,"  continued  the 
Queen,  "  even  though  you  do 
come  garbed  in  sober  gray  to 
our  gay  Court." 

"Your  Majesty,"  returned  the 
old  Quaker  gallantly,  "  I  wear 
gray  that  it  may  contrast  the 
better  with  the  high  color  of 
my  admiration  for  the  Queen 
of  France." 

"And  this  is  our  old  friend, 
the  Commodore.  We  are  glad 
to  have  you  back  at  Versailles 
after  your  splendid  fighting, 
Monsieur,"  said  the  Queen, 

208 


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r 
*• 

kl 


•L? 


T 
f 


THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

dimpling  with  pleasure  at  Dr. 
Franklin's  compliment  and  giv- 
ing her  hand  to  Paul  Jones, 
who  had  waited  with  ill- 
concealed  impatience  for  this 
recognition  of  his  rank  and 
station. 

"To  see  you  again,  Your 
Majesty,"  began  the  doughty 
little  Captain,  with  a  shade  too 
much  fervor,  I  thought,  "is 
better  fortune  than  to  capture 
a  ship  like  the  Serapis" 

"  You  must  tell  me  about  that 
action,  Monsieur." 

"  I  shall  be  pleased  to  attend 

upon  Your  Majesty  at  any  time 

for  that  or  any  other  purpose," 

he  replied.     "And  if  it  were 

209 


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f 


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V 


Y 


r 


fc* 


* 


THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

necessary  to  secure  entrance  to 
your  levee,  1  would  cheerfully 
engage  to  capture  another 
British  frigate." 

The  Queen  laughed  kindly  at 
the  little  Captain,  and  then  she 
stared  toward  Bucknall,  who 
stood  shifting  from  one  foot  to 
another,  twisting  his  hat  in  his 
hand.  She  was  a  good- 
hearted  woman  and  would  fain 
neglect  no  one — not  even 
the  humblest. 

"And  who  is  this?"  she 
asked. 

"Madame,  give  me  leave,"  I 
interposed.  "  He  is  a  sailor  to 
whom  I  owe  life,  liberty  and— 
love !" 

210 


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THE  SLIPPER'S   WEARER          k| 

,?TY  : 

a  • 

1 

?> 

T   !c" 

•  C( 

"  Looks  he  not  like  a  cupid's 

tj 

%: 

1  i 

V 

ff. 

messenger  ?"      queried 

Her 

vl 

(>  : 

I  i 

Y% 

Majesty,  smiling,  and  then  the 

.^ 

!--*V 

-% 

\ 

J^' 

King  broke  in. 

!% 

!•  ff 

y 

t^Y 

"  Have    you    sent    for   the 

\  ? 

/! 

r 

y 

prisoner,  Madame  ?" 

V 

i:V 

r 

i» 

"Your  Majesty,  he  is 

here  !" 

^* 

r 

^ 

r 

5 

"What,  this  gentleman  ?" 

/ 

3 

The  Queen  bowed 

. 

f> 
1     '"t* 

/ 

r 

% 

"  What  have  you 

to  say  for  v 

:  \ 

•r 

J 

yourself,  sir  ?"  the  King 

asked   |* 

\  v 

V 

%? 

me. 

. 

^v* 

• 

V 

% 

"  Much,  Your  Majesty. 

I  am 

/: 

/ 

an  American  naval 

officer,  as 

c 

!  / 

YJ 

Sr 

Commodore    Paul 

Jones   can 

,1 

\ 

|V' 

\ 

bear  witness." 

3c 

i*  /* 

y  9) 

y 

"Ay  that  I  can,  Frank.    Tis 

Rfe 

i: 

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true,  Your  Majesty. 

He  sailed  rj 

Tip 

[JJ 

\ 

TJ 

with  me  on  the  Alfred, 

and  a    f» 

r|. 

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211 

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THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 


better  officer  I  did  not  have, 
and  I  say  it  who  have  a  right 
to  testify." 

"Good,"  said  the  King. 
"Proceed,  Monsieur." 

"  I  was  captured  with  Captain 
Cunningham  in  the  Revenge" 

"Give  me  a  fleet,  Your 
Majesty,"  interrupted  Commo- 
dore Jones,  "and  we'll  stop 
all  that." 

The  King  smiled  and  nodded 
to  me. 

"I  escaped  from  a  British 
prison-ship,  robbed  a  gentle- 
man in  England,  got  money 
from  him,  came  to  France 
hoping  to  find  Dr.  Franklin 
or  Commodore  Jones.  Neither 

212 


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fcr 

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THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

was  in  Paris.  I  lost  my  money, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  an  enemy, 
and  was  lodged  in  jail,  whence 
I  have  been  this  morning 
brought  here  by  Her  Majesty's 
gracious  interference." 

"How  did  you  lose  your 
money  ?"  asked  the  King, 
quite  as  a  father  might  have 
spoken  to  his  son.  There  was 
something  pleasant  about  the 
plain,  homely  man.  I  hesitated 
not  a  moment. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,  Sire,  that 
I  gambled  it  away." 

The  King  shook  his  head. 

"  I  can  make  good  your  loss," 
he  said  ;  "but  play  is  the  curse 
of  the  young  nobles  of  my 

213 


, 


/ 

T 

• 


FT 


T 


r 
M?.| 


r 


SH 


THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

Court,  and  of  all  strangers  who 
come  to  Paris,  as  well." 

"  Your  Majesty  is  most  kind. 
When  1  can  hear  from  America 
I  shall  be  able  to  discharge  all 
my  obligations,  and  I  wish  to 
say  to  Your  Majesty  and  before 
you  all  "  —all  meant  Mademoi- 
selle— "that  I  shall  eschew 
play  in  the  future." 

"Bien!"  said  the  King,  with 
a  pleased  look.  "  There  were 
charges  against  you  of  highway 
robbery,  1  believe?" 

"On  information  laid  by  me, 
Your  Majesty,"  broke  in  du 
Tremigon. 

"  But  Monsieur  du  Tremigon 
withdraws  the  charges  now. 
214 


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& 


THE   SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

Highway  robbery  !  It  hath  an 
ugly  sound,"  said  the  Queen. 
"  How  is  that,  Monsieur  du 
Tremigon  ?" 

I  never  saw  such  a  look  of 
baffled  rage  and  hatred  as  that 
on  the  Marquis  du  Tremigon's 
face.  He  was  completely 
powerless.  The  evidence 
against  him  was  too  strong. 
He  tried  to  speak,  but  there  was 
no  help  for  it.  He  bowed  at 
last  with  a  bad  grace. 

"  I  am  too  much  of  a  gentle- 
man "  -I  have  always  been 
suspicious  of  a  man  who  pro- 
tests his  quality  overmuch,  by 
the  way — "to  contradict  the 
Queen  of  France,"  he  said. 

215 


I* 


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T 


Iff 


V 

i. 


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ff 


tf 

Y 


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• 


E? 

F 

Y 


THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

"Good, "said the  King.  "But 
there  were  some  papers  ?" 

"  Monsieur  du  Tremigon  lost 
them,  unfortunately,"  again 
interposed  the  Queen. 

"Very  careless,  I'm  sure," 
commented  the  King  severely. 

"I, "volunteered Dr.  Franklin, 
"will  be  surety  for  Monsieur 
Burnham's  debts  to  the  Marquis 
du  Tremigon,  or  any  others." 

"The  word  of  a  gentleman 
so  vouched  for  is  sufficient," 
said  the  Marquis,  raging  in  his 
heart,  but  helpless. 

"I'd  rather  pay  him  the 
money,  doctor,  and  owe  it  to 
you,"  I  said  softly  to  Dr. 
Franklin. 

216 


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THE   SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

"Is  it  a  great  sum,  lad?" 
whispered  the  Quaker  aside. 
"Our  exchequer  is  running 
low.  And,  hark  ye,  that  high- 
way robbery  in  England— 
'tis  hardly  a  crime  of  which 
you  could  be  convicted  in 
France." 

Now,  why  had  neither  I  nor 
any  one  else  thought  of  that  ? 
I  am  usually  quick  to  see  all 
sides  of  a  case,  and  this  failure 
annoyed  me  for  a  moment. 

"  We  will  attend  to  the  debt," 
said  the  King,  after  a  momen- 
tary consultation  with  the 
Queen.  "Now,  gentlemen, 
no  more  of  this." 

Of  course  when  he  put  on  his 
217 


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THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 


royal  look  and  said  that,  there 
was  nothing  left  for  me  to 
do  but  acquiesce. 

"  Pardon,  Your  Majesty,"  said 
the  Due  de  Rivau-Huet,  who 
had  noted  all  that  had  occurred 
with  ill-concealed  impatience, 
not  to  say  indignation,  "Mon- 
sieur du  Tre'mlgon  has  another 
announcement  to  make,  I 
believe." 

"What  is  that,  Due?"  asked 
the  King. 

"Your  Majesty  is  doubtless 
aware  that  my  son  and  the 
father  of  the  Marquis  du  Tre"- 
migon  entered  into  a  contract 
that  their  children  should  be 
married  at  a  suitable  age,  pro- 

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THE  SLIPPER'S   WEARER 

vided  they  were  both  willing 
to  carry  out  the  agreement  ?" 

"  I  have  heard  so,"  answered 
the  King. 

"The  Marquis  du  Tremigon 
wishes,  in  the  presence  of 
these  witnesses,  to  renounce 
all  pretension  to  the  hand  of 
Mademoiselle  de  Villars." 

"Your  Majesty,"  protested 
the  Marquis  in  one  last  desper- 
ate attempt  to  gain  his  end, 
"  Monsieur  le  Due  mis— 

"  1  believe  I  am  not  mistaken, 
Monsieur,"  said  the  Due,  very 
stately  and  magnificent,  with 
his  hand  on  his  sword — my 
heart  went  out  to  him — looking 
hard  at  the  Marquis. 
219 


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THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

"I  am  sure,"  added  the 
Queen  in  her  silvery  voice— 
and  you  would  have  thought 
she  was  conferring  the  greatest 
favor  in  her  power  upon  the 
wretched  du  Tremigon— "  that 
the  Due  is  right.  Monsieur  du 
Tremigon,"  she  went  on,  with 
a  woman's  spitefulness— for 
which  indeed  I  could  not  blame 
her,  "is  no  more  desirous  of 
marrying  Mademoiselle  de  Vil- 
lars  than  he  is  of  pressing  the 
charge  of  highway  robbery 
against  Monsieur  Burnham." 

Du  Tre"migon  could  not  trust 
himself   to  speak   again.    He 
clenched  his  hands  and  bowed 
low  before  the  Queen. 
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... 


THE   SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

back  on  du  Tre"migon,  who 
backed  out  of  the  room,  he 
said  to  Dr.  Franklin  : 

"  Now  that  we  have  settled 
this  affair,  doctor,  I  want  you  to 
look  at  a  lock  in  my  cabinet 
that  interests  me  greatly. 
Gamain  brought  it  to-day.  Its 
mechanism  is  curious  and  com- 
plex. It  will  interest  a  scien- 
tific man  like  yourself,  I  am 
sure." 

"I  shall  be  glad  to  attend 
Your  Majesty." 

"Give  me  leave,  Sire,"  again 
said  the  Due  de  Rivau-Huet. 
"Your  Majesty,"  continued 
the  old  man,  standing  very 
erect,  "  the  Marquis  du  Tre"- 

222 


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THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

migon  averred  that  he  was  in 
my  granddaughter's  apart- 
ments until  a  late  hour  the 
other  night." 

"  It  is  false,"  said  the  Queen. 

"  Madame,  1  know  that. 
What  1  wish  to  know  is,  who 
was  there  ?" 

"Monsieur!  Before  them 
all !"  exclaimed  Mademoiselle, 
startled  beyond  measure  by 
this  surprising  development. 
This  unlucky  speech  in  itself 
was  a  confession. 

"The  King  is  the  fountain  of 
nobility  in  the  land,"  continued  ' 
the  Due,  striving  to  regain  his 
composure.  "  You  are  a  maid 
of  honor  to  the  Queen,  Made- 
223 


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THE   SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

moiselle.  That  gentleman  " — 
he  pointed  to  me — "  heard  the 
accusation  and  denied  it. 
These  are  his  friends.  Here  is 
some  mystery.  I  wish  an  ex- 
planation." 

"  But,  Due—  "  began  the  King, 
with  a  puzzled  look. 

"  I  crave  Your  Majesty's  par- 
don. Even  royalty  may  give 
place  to  the  feelings  of  a  grand- 
parent. Will  you  allow  me  to 
conduct  this  affair  in  my  own 
way,  Sire  ?" 

"  Go  on,"  said  the  King. 

"I  am  satisfied  that  the 
Marquis  du  Tremigon,  whom  I 
shall  interrogate  later,  with  the 

King's  permission " 

224 


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THE  SLIPPER'S   WEARER 

"  I  will  give  you  a  lettre-de- 
cachet  to  the  Bastile  for  him,  if 
you  like,"  said  Louis  with  a 
truly  royal  carelessness. 

"  I  thank  your  Majesty.  Mon- 
sieur du  Tremigon  was  not 
there,  but  I  insist  some  one  was, 
and  I  demand. to  know  who." 

No  one  spoke  for  a  moment. 

"Espiau,  you  know?" 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say, 
Monsieur  le  Due,"  replied  the 
old  servant,  turning  pale. 

"  Will  no  one  tell  me  ?"  cried 
the  old  man,  grief  in  his  heart, 
appeal  in  his  tones,  shame  in 
his  bearing. 

"I  will,"  I  said  boldly;  "I 
was  there." 

225 


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THE  SLIPPER'S   WEARER 


, 


'You,  sir!" 

"Even  I,  Monsieur." 

"How  dared  you?  What 
do  you  mean  ?"  He  put  his 
hand  to  his  heart.  I  was 
nearest  him.  I  stretched  out 
my  arm  to  help  him,  but  he 
thrust  me  away.  "  Answer !" 
he  cried,  imperiously  forgetful 
of  the  King,  the  Queen,  every- 
body. 

"  It  is  very  simple,"  I  replied 
quietly.  "On  my  approach 
to  Paris  I  had  the  good  fortune 
to  be  of  assistance  to  Made- 
moiselle." 

"  In  what  capacity  ?" 

"  She  was  set  upon  by  three 
ruffians.  I  drove  them  off." 

226 


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THE   SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

"Whereabouts?" 

I  was  ignorant  of  the  road, 
but  Mademoiselle  came  to  my 
rescue. 

"  Near  Paris,  on  the  Versailles 
road,  Monsieur,"  she  said. 

"Where  was  your  escort?" 
queried  the  Due,  turning  to  his 
granddaughter  in  amazement. 

"  I  was  alone,  sir." 

"  Alone  on  the  Versailles 
road  ?" 

"In  my  service,  Due,"  inter- 
posed the  Queen  softly. 

"  Pardon,  Your  Majesty. 
That  is  sufficient.  Proceed, 
Monsieur." 

"  I  thereupon  fell  in  love  with 
your  granddaughter,  sir." 

227 


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THE  SLIPPER'S   WEARER 

"  How  dared  you,  sir ;  a  beg- 
garly— 

"  Monsieur  Burnham's  patri- 
mony includes  rich  land 
enough  to  make  a  county  in 
France,"  deftly  put  in  Dr. 
Franklin  at  this  juncture. 

"  But  in  America — "  said  the 
Due  scornfully. 

"  The  finest  land  the  sun  ever 
set  on,  Monsieur,"  broke  in 
Commodore  Jones  hotly. 

The  King  waved  his  hand  for 
silence,  and  the  Due  turned  to 
me  again. 

"  I     sought     your     grand- 
daughter far  and  wide,  and  at 
last  found  her  at  the  H6tel  de 
Rivau-Huet,"  I  resumed. 
228 


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THE   SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

1  had  a  hard  task  to  keep  to 
the  truth  and  yet  make  a  satis- 
factory story. 

"  And  was  it  at  her  invitation 
you  entered  her  apartment  ?" 

"  Monsieur  le  Due !"  ex- 
claimed the  King  hastily  in 
warning. 

"  Grandfather !"  cried  the  girl, 
recoiling  from  the  outrageous 
accusation. 

"Sir!"  I  replied,  with  spirit, 
"the  question  is  an  insult  to 
your  blood !  I  came  unex- 
pectedly, unknown,  unwel- 
come— like  a  thief  in  the 
night." 

"You  dared ?" 

"It  was  a  prank,  a  foolish 
229 


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THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 


trick ;  I  have  no  excuse    but 
my  passion." 

"And  you  were  alone  in  her 
apartment  with  my  grand- 
daughter, Monsieur?" 

"Pardon,  I  was  there,  Mon- 
sieur le  Due,"  said  Espiau. 

"Then  tell  me  the  truth  now, 
unless  you  forget  your  ancient 
fidelity,"  exclaimed  the  Due, 
turning  to  the  unhappy  servant. 
"You  saw  this  gentleman 
there  ?" 

1  shook  my  head  at  him,  but 
he  was  looking  at  Mademoi- 
selle. Disregarding  my  warn- 
ing glance,  she  nodded.  The 
seal  upon  the  servant's  lips  was 
broken. 

230 


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THE  SLIPPER'S   WEARER 

"Yes,  Monsieur  le  Due,"  he 
answered. 

"  And  where  was  he  ?" 

"In  Mademoiselle's — "  he 
hesitated. 

"Speak  ["thundered  the  old 
man. 

"Bedchamber,  Monsieur." 

"  Mon  Dieul"  cried  the  Due, 
his  composure  giving  way  at 
last.  He  put  his  face  in  his 
hands  with  a  movement  sin- 
gularly like  that  of  Mademoi- 
selle a  short  time  before. 

Is  it  that  Master  Shakespeare 
in  great  crises  voices  the  uni- 
versal cry  of  the  human  heart  ? 
For  like  the  father  of  Hero  in 
"  Much  Ado  About  Nothing  " 
231 


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THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

and  indeed  the  whole  affair 
was  somewhat  similar  in  my 
mind— the  Due  finally  broke 
forth  : 

"  '  Hath  no  man  here  a  sword 
for  me  ?' ' 

I  have  not  the  sentence  ex- 
actly, but  I  give  the  sense  of 
it,  and  I  pitied  him  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart.  But  the 
love  of  the  young  is  often 
cruel  to  the  old. 

"  My  grandfather !  my  grand- 
father !"  cried  Mademoiselle, 
sinking  to  his  feet,  "think  not 
bitterly  of  me  !  This  gentle- 
man has  told  the  truth.  I  had 
but  spoken  a  few  words  to  him 
when  you  came.  He  did  me 
232 


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THE   SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

a  great  service.  I  concealed 
him." 

"  Why  ?"  groaned  the  Due. 

"  1  was  afraid  that  you  would 
kill  him." 

"Afraid?  What  is  he  to 
you  ?" 

It  was  a  dreadful  situation  for 
a  young  girl.  She  had  never 
told  me  in  so  many  words, 
although  I  was  sure  of  it  in  my 
own  mind,  and  for  her  to  be 
compelled  to  declare  it  before 
all  these  men  was  indeed  hard. 
Yet  with  a  heroism  for  which 
I  can  never  be  sufficiently 


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"  I  love  him  !" 

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"You  love  him!"  exclaimed 
her  grandfather  in  amazement. 

"Monsieur  le  Due  de  Rivau- 
Huet,"  I  cried  in  my  turn, 
springing  to  her  side,  lifting 
her  up,  and  slipping  my  arm 
about  her  waist,  "  I  have  the 
honor  to  ask  you  to  give  me 
the  hand  of  your  grand- 
daughter in  marriage." 

"  She  is  a  countess  of  France," 
replied  the  Due.  "The  best 
blood  in  the  land  flows  in  her 
veins,  Monsieur." 

"  I  have  some  indifferent  good 
in  my  own  veins,  Monsieur  le 
Due,"  1  asserted  proudly,  nam- 
ing some  of  my  mother's  people. 
Is  this  true,  Monsieur  ?" 
234 


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THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

vouch  for  it,"  said  Paul 
Jones,  who  really  knew  little 
or  nothing  about  my  ancestry, 
but  who,  as  he  said  afterward, 
would  have  sworn  to  anything 
on  my  bare  statement  to  help 
me  out. 

"Your  Majesty,"  said  the 
Due,  turning  to  the  King,  but 
he  got  no  help  there. 

"If you  will  give  your  con- 
sent, Due, "said  Louis,  "  I  shall 
not  withhold  mine.  Indeed, 
under  the  circumstances—  "  he 
paused  significantly. 

The  Due  groaned  and  the 
gracious  Queen  came  to  our 
rescue  again. 

"Monsieur  le  Due,"  she  said, 
235 


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THE  SLIPPER'S   WEARER 

stepping  near  him  and  laying 
her  hand  on  his  arm,  "think  ! 
Monsieur  Burnham  is  a  gallant 
gentleman.  As  good  blood 
as  any  in  France  flows  in  his 
veins.  In  America  they  have 
no  kings,  but  they  are  all 
princes.  His  Majesty  in  his 
kindness  consents.  This  will 
cement  the  union  between  the 
two  countries  against  England, 
which  is  so  dear  to  think  of. 
Will  you  sacrifice  your  pride  if 
I  ask  you, .  and  bless  the  pair 
who  love  each  other  ?" 

"  Madame,  it  is  as  you  will," 
he  faltered.  "  I  had  cherished 
other  dreams.  Still,  there  can 
be  no  higher  degree  than  that 


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THE   SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

of  gentleman,   after  all.    No, 
though  he  sit  upon  a  throne." 

"The  royalty  of  virtue,  the 
royalty  of  honor,  the  royalty 
of  courage,"  said  Dr.  Franklin 
kindly,  "make  this  marriage 
not  an  unequal  one." 

"  1  am  an  old  man,"  continued 
the  Due  ;  "  this  has  been  hard 
for  me.  But  let  the  young 
love  have  its  way." 

"And  you  will  forgive  me  ?" 
pleaded  Mademoiselle,  ap- 
proaching him  nearer. 

"Your  Majesty  will  permit 
me  ?"  asked  the  Due.  He  took 
her  in  his  arms  and  pressed  a 
kiss  upon  her  forehead  and 
blessed  her. 

237 

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THE   SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

''Sir,"  he  said,  turning  to  me 
and  bowing,  "  I  hope  to  know 
more  of  you  before  I  commit 
this  child  to  your  keeping." 

"  I  shall  strive  to  merit  your 
kindness,  Monsieur  le  Due," 
I  answered,  overwhelmed  by 
this  happy  turn  to  my  fortunes. 

"Mow  that  all  is  settled  for 
the  second  time,"  said  the 
King,  greatly  relieved,  "  Dr. 
Franklin,  Commodore,  and 
you,  Due,  will  you  all  come 
with  me  ?" 

"  We  attend  Your  Majesty." 

The  four  gentlemen  bowed 
low  before  the  Queen.  The 
King  bowed  to  me,  Dr. 
Franklin  and  Commodore  Jones 
238 


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THE  SLIPPER'S   WEARER 


shook  my  hand.  Our  kindly 
minister  made  an  appointment 
to  meet  me  later  in  the  palace. 

"  You  were  lucky,"  he  said. 

Indeed  I  realized  that,  for  I 
replied  : 

"Thanks  to  you  and  the 
Commodore." 

"Nay,"  said  the  Quaker, 
smiling,  "thanks  to  Mademoi- 
selle herself,  and  to  your  own 
ready  wit." 

Then  they  left  us  alone  with 
the  Queen  and  Bucknall. 

"  It  strikes  me,"  said  her  Maj- 
esty, looking  at  the  old  sailor, 
"that  nobody  has  said  any- 
thing about  the  part  you  have 
played  in  this  affair." 
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THE   SLIPPER'S  WEARER 


ting  it  in  Bucknall's  hand.  The 
old  sailor  was  not  without  a 
streak  of  gallantry. 

"  It's  the  hand  wot  gives  it, 
lady,"  he  said,  "wot  makes 
me  wally  it  more'n  the  gold 
pieces." 

"You  will  await  Monsieur 
Burnham  without  the  door," 
she  said,  dismissing  him  gra- 
ciously. 

"Monsieur  Burnham,"  she 
began  as  we  three  were  alone, 
"  you  are  a  thief  after  all.  You 
have  stolen  the  fairest  jewel 
of  my  Court.  I  ought  to  be 
angry  with  you,  but— I  am 
not." 

"  I  thank  Your  Majesty." 
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"You  will  be  very  good  to 
this  daughter  of  France  in  your 
own  land  ?  " 

"Madame,  I  will  cherish  her 
as  the  King  his  crown.  Nay," 
I  added  quickly,  "as  I  would 
cherish  Your  Majesty  were  I 
the  King." 

"You  pay  me  in  pretty 
speeches." 

"They  come,  Madame,  from 
my  heart  of  hearts.  After  my 
country  and  my  wife,  my 
sword  is  yours." 

She  was  gone.  Of  course  I 
took  Mademoiselle  in  my  arms, 
and  this  time  there  was  no 
hesitation  on  her  part  in  re- 
turning my  ardent  caresses. 
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THE  SLIPPER'S  WEARER 

"  Have  you  forgotten  the 
talisman  ?  " 

"  The  talisman  ?  "  I  cried. 

I  am  stupid  sometimes,  not 
often,  and  1  was  thinking  so 
hard  of  her  that  1  did  not  catch 
her  meaning  at  first. 

"That  which  Master Bucknall 
brought  me— that  I  gave  back 
to  you." 

"Oh!"  said  I;  "the  slipper 
that  saved  my  life ;  that  gave 
me  hope." 

"And  hope  gave  you  assur- 
ance?" 

"And  assurance  won  me 
you." 

She  drew  herself  away  and 
sat  down  in  the  Queen's  chair, 
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THE  SLIPPER'S   WEARER 

and  no  royal  person  ever  be- 
came it  so  well  as  she.  Then 
she  fumbled  at  her  shoe  a  mo- 
ment, and  thrust  out  one  dainty 
stockinged  little  foot  at  me. 

"You  might  put  it  on,"  she 
whispered,  blushing  vividly. 

I  am  not  ashamed  to  say  that 
I  kissed  that  foot  before  I  cov- 
ered it  with  my  lady's  slipper. 


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T>- 


DUE 


GAYLORD 


PRINTED  IN  U.S.A. 


flitii 

A    001384283    6 


